Donald Trump defended his use of the word "shrill" to describe Hillary Clinton during a campaign speech, saying on MSNBC on Thursday morning that it's a word he would use to describe his male rivals.
"I think the word 'shrill' doesn't apply to women exclusively," the GOP presidential front-runner said on "Morning Joe." "I know men that are shrill."
During a campaign stop in North Charleston, South Carolina, on Wednesday, Trump raised his voice several octaves as he spoke of Clinton, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination.
"Hillary, who’s become very shrill — do you know the word 'shrill'?" Trump asked the crowd. "She’s become shrill."
When pressed by "Morning Joe" guest Katty Kay, who said the term can be seen as sexist, Trump said the former secretary of state has "gotten loud" and "very boisterous" on the campaign trail.
"I know many men who've become very loud and obnoxious also," said Trump, adding, "I would call Rand Paul shrill."
Trump has taken heat for the way he has described women — including Fox News host Megyn Kelly and the lone female GOP presidential candidate Carly Fiorina.
Trump called Kelly a "bimbo" after she questioned him on his perceived misogynistic comments. During the first GOP debate on Aug. 6, Trump told her that he doesn't have time for "total political correctness."
In an interview with Rolling Stone released earlier this month, Trump appeared to criticize Fiorina's physical appearance, saying of the former Hewlett-Packard chief: "Look at that face!" He later said he was referring to Fiorina's "persona," not her looks.
Meanwhile, the real estate mogul on Thursday made no attempt to mend fences with Fox News, saying he will continue to stay off the cable news network for the foreseeable future.
"I don't think I've been treated fairly on Fox News," he said, adding that he believes the network fails to report his standing in the major polls.
In a statement, Fox News said that Trump announced his boycott only after his appearance on the "The O'Reilly Factor," originally scheduled for Thursday, was canceled.
