Trump makes joke mentioning Todd Palin after snowmobile accident
GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Monday referenced Todd Palin in a joke, just one day after the husband of the former Alaska governor was seriously injured in a snowmobile accident.
While talking about last year’s San Bernardino, Calif., shooting, Trump said: “If Todd Palin were in that room — frankly, if Sarah Palin [R-Alaska] were in that room, forget about Todd, especially now — if Sarah Palin were in that room, if somebody were in that room, that had some kind of gun attached to the hip, attached to the ankle, where bullets can fly in the other direction, you wouldn’t have had this.”
{mosads}The comment came at a Tampa, Fla., rally where Trump appeared with the former governor, who canceled a planned appearance with Trump in The Villages, Fla., Monday after news of the crash broke. She appeared in Florida with Trump anyway, however, introducing him during the stop in Tampa.
A longtime snowmobiling partner confirmed Monday that Todd Palin was injured and hospitalized, but is expected to recover.
Scott Davis said Todd Palin’s father said his son was healing up after the mishap on Sunday evening, according to The Associated Press.
Sarah Palin on Monday thanked supporters for boosting her family’s spirits in its time of need, adding that she enjoyed campaigning with Trump in Florida.
“Todd is our rock … toughest guy I know,” she wrote on her Facebook page. “Thank you for your prayers as he recovers following a snowmachine injury last night.
“You know, your prayers have meant so much to our family over the years and I’ve not thanked you enough for providing us that shield of faith,” the 2008 Republican vice presidential nominee continued. “God bless you too!
It was an honor to be with so many patriotic Floridians the past two days; you remind me that when ‘life happens’ and we face challenges as individuals and a nation, it’s the strength in unity and a strong faith that lets us overcome. Stay strong!”
Trump’s remarks raised eyebrows as Todd Palin is reportedly in the intensive care unit, although it remains unclear the full extent of his injuries.
Trump – whom Sarah Palin formally endorsed earlier this year – may have private knowledge of Todd Palin’s status, given his personal ties with their family.
Sarah Palin’s appearance with Trump came one day before Florida’s crucial GOP presidential primary, a winner-takes-all voting contest that awards 99 delegates.
Trump leads the Republican presidential field by more than 19 points there, according to the latest RealClearPolitics average of polls.
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