If you think this started with Trump, I believe you are ignoring a whole lot of American political history. That's not not being pro or anti Trump, just factual.
That’s a good point. This is the modern version of it. Kind of a RealityTV/twitter version.
I do think Trump has set a new low in personally dealing the dirt though. The candidate stayed above the garbage talk in the past - at least the modern era.
In modern history has there been a candidate as shallow, sophomoric and silly, particularly one who reserves the majority of his attacks for his alleged party?