Donald Trump blasted his remaining two GOP presidential rivals after they announced an agreement Sunday to coordinate in upcoming primary contests with the aim of preventing Trump from securing the nomination.
"Honestly, it shows such total weakness, and it's pathetic when two longtime insider politicians - establishment guys whether you like it or not - have to collude, have to get together to try to beat a guy that really speaks what the people want," Trump said during a campaign event in Warwick, Rhode Island, on Monday.
The real estate mogul's campaign advisers have encouraged him to tone down his bombastic rhetoric in recent days to appear more presidential. But that advice fell by the wayside Monday as Trump ridiculed Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Ohio Gov. John Kasich in highly personal terms.
"I watch Cruz this morning, and he's all mixed up because he's losing so badly, and when he's under pressure he's like a basket case. So he's stuttering, and he's stammering," Trump said. "He doesn't know anything about the economy, he doesn't know anything about jobs, he was a failed senator, he couldn't get anything passed. Nothing."
Trump also derided Cruz's manner of speaking and said that his colleagues in the Senate believe him to be "a pain in the ass."