Trump: Jeb ‘needed mommy to help him’

by Elliot Smilowitz - 01/22/16 8:41 PM ET

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is taking his insult game to a new level, turning his fire on Jeb Bush’s mother.

After a campaign ad earlier Friday where former first lady Barbara Bush that took veiled shots at Trump, the billionaire businessman shot back by calling Jeb Bush a mama’s boy:

Just watched Jeb’s ad where he desperately needed mommy to help him. Jeb — mom can’t help you with ISIS, the Chinese or with Putin.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 23, 2016

{mosads}Trump and Bush have been trading barbs since the summer. Earlier Friday, Bush released a video of his mother touting his qualifications for president.

In it, Barbara Bush seems to refer to Trump when she says: “Rather than talking about how popular they are or how great they are, he’s doing it because he sees a huge need and it’s not being filled by anybody.”

Bush responded playfully, tweeting “I’d be careful Donald” with an image of his mother in football pads and eye black.

I'd be careful Donald pic.twitter.com/Y3iZmG4tt5

— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) January 23, 2016

The photo of Barbara Bush is from a 2014 campaign for literacy where she posed with Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt.

Trump has repeatedly mocked Jeb Bush for running away from his family name and trying not to link his campaign to his father and brother’s presidencies.

– Updated at 10:50 p.m.

Tags Barbara Bush Donald Trump Jeb Bush