Long-shot candidate claims Trump operative made a 'ham-handed' threat against his in-laws

When it was revealed that National Review writer David French was Bill Kristol's pick to be a dark horse conservative candidate to challenge presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, most political observers burst into laughter. While it's true that French is likely more qualified to be president than Trump is, he also has absolutely no name recognition and no demonstrated ability to inspire a movement large enough to be a credible threat to Trump.

It seems that Trump's campaign took French's prospective bid very seriously, however, and even made an attempt to intimidate him through his wife's family. Talking on Morning Joe on Tuesday, French explained that a Trump operative called up his wife's family and told them to inform French that "the race would be very difficult" for him if he decided to run.

"Well, you know, it was probably one of the more ham-handed attempts at intimidation, which out of the Trump operation you can expect things to be done in most incompetent way possible," French explained. "I assumed if I did this, look, I have been up against Trump for some time, and the assaults on my family have been overwhelming just as a writer. As everyone knows, Trump has an online racist mob that he often stokes by retweeting some of these horrible white supremacists. As that online racist mob is fond of pointing out I have a multiracial family and so they have gone after my youngest daughter in the worst way imaginable."

Check out a video of French talking about the Trump campaign's attempts to intimidate him below.