Trump: A New Low in Presidential Demeanor

March 04, 2016

The Glenn Beck Program

Thank God I didn't watch the debate with my children last night.

How can we possibly teach our children how to behave, how to address people, how to talk? Within the first five minutes of the debate last night Donald Trump goes into his small hands. Had I been sitting there trying to teach my children about the Constitution and the process, I don't know what I would have said to them.

Who didn't sit there, if you were watching with your children, and have to have a conversation or at least feel like you were watching HBO after 11:00 PM? What the hell is going on with us? How can we possibly as conservatives tolerate this anymore?

Our society is coarse enough. Our children are under attack. You cannot expect us to be able to raise a strong generation that understands the difference of right and wrong with this kind of example.

I don't care about the size of Donald Trump's hands --- or any other body part, for that matter. But to bring this up during a presidential debate when you know your kids are watching? Despicable.

Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:

GLENN: Let me start with this. What was your earliest memory of a political function or speech or television experience with your family?

I remember my earliest memory with my family was sitting with my father, watching Nixon defend himself. And then watching Nixon resign, and then Ford pardoning him. I think it all happened in about a year's worth of time. But it's all just kind of one memory with me. And I remember watching television, and I remember specifically what my parents were saying at the time.

Last night -- I have watched all of the debates with my kids. My 9-year-old and my 11-year-old and my 20-somethings, we had been watching all of the debates together. Last night -- my wife and I are here in Washington, DC, and my kids are not with us. They did not have to watch the debate. But thank God they didn't watch the debate last night.

How can you possibly teach your children how to behave, how to address people, how to talk. Who didn't sit there, if you were watching it with your children, in the first five minutes and have to have a conversation with your children or at least feel like you were watching HBO after 11:00 p.m.? What the hell is going on with us? How can we possibly as conservatives tolerate this anymore?

Our society is coarse enough. Our children are under attack. You cannot expect us to be able to raise a strong generation that understands the difference of right and wrong -- let me say this.

George Lange who is one of the best -- he is the Annie Leibowitz of our day. George Lange is the, what? Artist and residence at Facebook. Right? Right. And Instagram. One of the best photographers in the country. He's a communist. He's a good friend of mine. But he's damn near a communist. He came in this morning because there's about a two-hour line outside in the snow here at CPAC because Secret Service is here. So he was taking pictures and waiting out in that line to get in.

And he said, "You know what, the people -- young people, the youth that are here, it's amazing how many people that are young are here and how they're dressed." He said, "Everybody is really dressed up, and it's really nice." Quote, "to see somebody have respect for one another in just the way they're dressed. It's nice to have people who have respect for themselves, for each other, for the process."

Last night, in the first two minutes -- I'm going to tell you, there are two things that you need to know. And these are the only two things you need to know about the debate last night. And these two things don't make the decision easy for you, you're asleep at the switch. You have no idea where we are. The first one is culture. And it's the least scary of the two. The first one is culture.

Within the first five minutes, had I been sitting there trying to teach my children about the Constitution and the process and Donald Trump goes into his small hands, I don't know what I would have said to my kids. Listen, here's the quote. 541, please.

PAT: Okay.

DONALD: I also happen to call him a lightweight, okay. And I have said that. So I would like to take that back. He's really not that much of a lightweight.

And as far as -- and I have to say this. I have to say this. He hit my hands. Nobody has ever hit my hands. I've never heard of this one.

Look at those hands. Are they small hands?

(applause)

And here he referred to my hands, if they're small, something else must be small. I guarantee you there's no problem. I guarantee you.

(applauding)(laughter)

PAT: I'm sorry. I think he's lying about that, just like he's lying about everything else.

GLENN: You know what, I could go into -- did you see the latest research now on the psyche of Adolf Hitler? Because Adolf Hitler also had small hands. I'm not kidding you. Was phobic about his hands. And phobic -- never -- I'm telling you, this is absolutely true. Look it up. Look it up. Was phobic about his hands.

PAT: No, I believe you.

GLENN: And also was -- was always uncomfortable about his sexuality and everything else and never wanted to be seen without his clothes on.

There's new research out that they've found one of his doctor's reports from one of his physicals, he actually was deformed downstairs. Was so small, it was inside of him. Some sort of a deformity.

JEFFY: Yes. Micro.

GLENN: And that's why he was so phobic -- yeah.

PAT: Yeah, we were talking about this the other day on Pat & Stu. But I can't remember what they call it.

STU: Pardon the color here, but it was a micro penis, is what they called it.

PAT: That's what they call it.

GLENN: It's a legitimate deal. It's not like a fourth grade slam. It's a legitimate deal. But he was phobic about his hands in the same way. So I'm not saying that he's -- and I don't care. I don't care. But to bring this up --

PAT: During a debate.

GLENN: -- during a debate when you know your kids are watching -- it was bad enough for Rubio to bring it up --

PAT: Oh, he doesn't care about that.

GLENN: But Rubio at least gave us an out. You know what they say about small hands, yeah, you can't trust them. You can't trust them.

PAT: Yeah. Right.

GLENN: At least he gave me as a parent an out. This guy didn't give me an out at all as a parent.

Featured Image: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participates in a debate sponsored by Fox News at the Fox Theatre on March 3, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. Voters in Michigan will go to the polls March 8 for the State's primary. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The critical difference: Rights from the Creator, not the state

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is America’s next generation trading freedom for equity?

NurPhoto / Contributor | Getty Images

A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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