Donald Trump’s mouth will end his presidential bid

Donald Trump was never going to be the Republican nominee for president. Over the past few days, he showed why.

Trump isn’t the first to cynically demonize Latino immigrants for political gain, as he did when he announced his candidacy.

And he’s not the first to criticize Sen. John McCain, a lightning rod for the right wing of the Republican Party. McCain’s positions are fair game; his war record is not. Trump managed to insult all veterans while attacking the senator.

McCain is a “war hero because he was captured,” Trump said in Iowa last week. “I like people that weren’t captured.”

McCAIN: Trump owes veterans an apology

TRUMP: Don't lecture me over McCain

EDITORIAL: The Donald sells only himself

With that, he demeaned every American for whom the POW flag flies. Those, like McCain, tortured at the Hanoi Hilton. Those who died or survived the Bataan death march. Those held, and sometimes executed, by this era’s enemies.

A man worthy of leadership, particularly one who grabbed five deferments to avoid going to Vietnam, would have instantly recognized his mistake and apologized.

Trump is not that man. Instead, he doubled down, as though running for president was just another reality show.

ROBERTS: Is Trump really (still) a GOP hero?

MONTINI: Will Trump triumph after trashing McCain?

VALDEZ: Why candidates aren't like you and me

Almost every other Republican presidential candidate quickly criticized him. “Until Mr. Trump apologizes directly to John McCain, and also to the veterans of this country, I don't think he has the character or the temperament to hold the highest position in this country," former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said, nailing the issue.

A man with the temperament to be president would not have responded as Trump did. Writing in USA TODAY, he lashed out:

“A number of my competitors for the Republican nomination have no business running for president. I do not need to be lectured by any of them. Many are failed politicians or people who would be unable to succeed in the private sector.”

Brash talk has its place, if it is employed carefully and strategically. But someone who tosses broad-brush insults with every other sentence is no leader. Trump’s enormous ego and bigger mouth will end his presidential charade, if his barb at veterans hasn’t already done the job.