Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump stated that he isn’t “Walking away” from Thursday’s debate and ” We’re going to go on forever with these debates. At some point you have got to start doing other things other than debating” on Wednesday’s “O’Reilly Factor” on the Fox News Channel.
O’Reilly said that while “[M]ost politicians would have dodged this interview.” “I don’t think not showing to the debate tomorrow night is good for America. Voters are still assessing you. They need to see you in high-profile situations.”
Trump responded, “[W]hen you’re mistreated, as we were with the Iran deal, that our country should have walked. Secretary Kerry, President Obama should have walked from that deal, you would have made a much better deal. I was not treated well by fox. they came out with this ridiculous PR statement it was like, drawn up by a child. And it was a taunt. And I said how much of this do you take?’ I have zero respect for Megyn Kelly. I don’t think she’s very good at what she does. I think she’s highly overrated. And frankly, she’s a moderator. I thought her question last time was ridiculous. And everybody said I won the debate. … I don’t mind debating. In fact, actually I like debating.”
He added, “I just don’t like being used.” He also told O’Reilly, “[Y]ou’re a lot tougher than Megyn Kelly, in my opinion.” After O’Reilly said he would face a lot worse as president.
O’Reilly also pointed to the question about his personal life Newt Gingrich got during one of the debates, and how him showing up and taking on the questioner helped him. Trump said he thought the question he got was “equally unfair.” And that he gave a “great answer.”
He also said that he would do other debates and raising money for veterans is a good thing. Trump later added, “The Democrats are all finished with their debates. They’ve had six. They were hidden behind football games and every other thing. They’re all finished with their debates. We’re going to go on forever with these debates. At some point you have got to start doing other things other than debating.”
Watch (Part 2):
Later on, O’Reilly asked, “In your Christian faith, there is a very significant tenet, and that’s the tenet of forgiveness. And I think you should forgive, not only journalists who come at you in ways you don’t like, but I think you should be the bigger man and say, ‘You know what? I didn’t like it,’ and you should make that case all day long, ‘but, I’m not going to take any action against it.’ You know, don’t you think that’s the right thing to do?”
Trump answered, “It probably is, but, you know, it’s called an eye for an eye I guess also.”
He further stated, “We’re going to help a lot of veterans, whereas Fox is not giving anything to the veterans. I’m giving 100% to the veterans, and I’m going to make a substantial donation.”
In the second half for an interview, Trump said, “I don’t like being taken advantage of. In this case, I was being taken advantage of by Fox. I don’t like that. Now when I’m representing the country, if I win…as president, I won’t let our country, because that’s a personality trait. I’m not going to let our country be taken advantage of by Iran.”
When O’Reilly responded, “[P]eople are going to say, ‘You know, Trump he’s just too self-absorbed to be president. He needs to look at the bigger picture.’ The bigger picture is get your message to the folks.” Trump stated, “There’s got to be something because you set the all-time record in cable history, and so did CNN –.” O’Reilly then cut in that people want to get to know him and that by “walking away” from the debate, he was denying people that opportunity. Trump then said, “I’m not walking away. I was pushed away.”
Follow Ian Hanchett on Twitter @IanHanchett
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