Donald Trump attacks 'failing' New York Times for implying that he called Howard Stern a 'loser'
In a Sunday opinion column, The Times' Frank Bruni wrote about how much Trump's brand is tied to the concept of winning.
Bruni also reflected on what it would do to Trump if he lost Iowa, the first state to weigh in on the Republican presidential primary.
The columnist noted that Trump frequently calls people "losers." Bruni cited singer Cher, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, commentator Ana Navarro, HBO host Bill Maher, GOP consultant Karl Rove, and Stern.
But Trump insisted he would never call Stern a loser. The Republican front-runner lashed out at Bruni for the "disgusting," supposedly fabricated notion that he would insult Stern, whom he called his friend. Trump also criticized the "failing" Times for allowing the claim to be printed:
It turned out that The Times was actually was referencing Howard K. Stern, the former boyfriend of the late model Anna Nicole Smith, without making it clear which Stern had been insulted. Trump reportedly called the less famous Stern a "total loser."
Bruni tweeted the correction after Trump's attack: