CNN host Jim Acosta questioned Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL), a surrogate for Donald Trump, after the former president used inappropriate language and recounted adult stories at recent rallies.
"He's also made a lot of crude comments lately talking about the golfer Arnold Palmer — talking about Arnold Palmer's genitalia," Acosta said to Donalds on Tuesday. "Is this the way a president should speak?"
The lawmaker refused to answer the question directly.
"Jim, with all due respect to the question that you just asked me, none of that matters to what the American people are going to deal with in 13 days and 14 days, excuse me, because, over the next 14 days, voters are going to decide," Donalds said. "Because that's what's happening right now, Jim."
"So if you want to talk about a story he told about Arnold Palmer or the fact that young girls are being sold into sex slavery today because of Kamala Harris's wide open borders, I will tell you, give me a story about Arnold Palmer, but secure the country and save these young girls from being victimized by the drug cartels, because Kamala Harris doesn't care about that," he continued.
Acosta pushed back: "I guess my question is, the larger question is, when you have a president, a former president, somebody who's running for president, talking about Democrats as being the enemy from within, when he's making lewd comments about professional golfers, doesn't a candidate's character matter? Does Donald Trump have the character, in your view, to be the president of the United States?"
Donalds argued Trump had the proper character "because he's been president and the country was better off when he was president."
"So if you're going to talk about character, Jim, let's really talk about it," he added. "Let's not talk about stories about Arnold Palmer. Let's talk about the reality of leadership and the lack thereof from Kamala Harris and Joe Biden."
"I mean, do you find it entertaining when he's making these kinds of comments?" Acosta asked. "I mean, is that something you want kids to hear?"
Donalds insisted he wanted a president who did "not run around the law like Kamala Harris and Joe Biden have done."
"Well, I'm just asking, Congressman, because, you know, a president of the United States is a role model," Acosta pressed. "And is that is that the behavior of a role model?"
"Kamala Harris is just a new face on the same failure," Donalds griped.