Bill Clinton Responds to Trump's Gathering His Accusers Before Debate The former president said he was proud of how his wife handled the situation.

 -- Bill Clinton said he was proud of his wife for the way she handled a predebate news conference staged by Donald Trump in which he gathered three of the former president's accusers — the first time he has publicly addressed the issue.

“I looked at her, and I realized that’s the kind of person you want to be president. Calm, relaxed and focused on other people. That’s what the election ought to be about. I mean, it’s a clear choice. It’s a pretty clear choice,” said Bill Clinton in Ames, Iowa, today. “I thought more about her than I did about him. I’m beyond being moved or surprised, have been for a long time.”

The women later appeared at the debate.

Bill Clinton said of the debate, “I was proud of my wife. And I felt bad for the citizens who were sitting on the stage who had been told if they came here, they could ask questions about what they really cared about that affect their lives, and very few of them got to. I felt bad for them, but I was proud of her.”

Trump has promised to keep the personal attacks coming in the final stretch before the election.