CLEVELAND — Donald Trump declared himself the winner of the first 2016 Republican presidential debate Thursday night — but he wasn’t happy with the questions he was asked.
Their questions to me were far tougher, the billionaire businessmen and GOP frontrunner said as he was swarmed by reporters and cameramen shortly after the debate at Quicken Loans Arena. And supposed, according to what everyone is telling me, and the call-ins and everything, I won. But the questions to me were not nice. I didn’t think they were appropriate.
How Trump — who has become the unexpected leader of the crowded Republican field in recent polls — would perform in his first-ever political debate was a key question heading into the event, which featured the top 10 Republican candidates, including New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
The answer? The real estate mogul and television personality flashed his trademark bravado frequently — saying at one point that he doesn’t have time for total political correctness.
After the debate, his campaign sent out a press released declaring Trump the unequivocal winner.
I am very proud of my great performance tonight, Trump said in a statement, I am not a debater, but I am a winner. If I am elected I will make this country a total winner. I will Make America Great Again.
Still, Trump felt the Fox News hosts who moderated the event gave him pointedly hard-hitting questions — including ones about his controversial comments on Mexican immigrants, how his stance on abortion changed over the years, and how companies he owned filed for bankruptcy four times.
Trump, who owns three New Jersey golf course and once owned three Atlantic City casinos, specifically called out Megyn Kelly, who pressed him about his history of making disparaging comments about women.
You call women you don’t like fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals, Kelly said in the debate.
Only Rosie O’Donnell, Trump interjected.
Kelly continued by asking if he felt such language was worthy of the presidency.
I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct, Trump said.
If you don’t like it, Megyn, I’m sorry, he continued. I’ve been very nice to you. Although I could maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me.
Trump said after the debate that he thought Kelly behaved very badly.
I thought it was an unfair question, Trump told reporters. They didn’t ask those questions of anybody else. So I thought it was an unfair question.
But you know what? he asked. The answers were good, obviously, because everyone thinks I won.
O’Donnell, a comedian who has feuded with Trump in the past, tweeted about the comment shortly after it was made.
Try explaining that 2 ur kids, she wrote.
Reince Preibus, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, said he didn’t think the moderators acted unfairly.
All in all, this is what people expected, Preibus told reporters. We had 10 people on the stage, and these are not shy people. So, we’re excited about it. I thought it was a good start to the debate season.
This isn’t the Waltons, he said later. I didn’t see anything that was out of bounds.
Trump also made waves for refusing to pledge that should he not win the Republican nomination, he will support the party’s eventual candidate and will refuse to run as a third-party contender.
I will not make a pledge at this time, he said at the beginning of the debate.
Trump was faced a backlash from some Republicans who say his sometimes contentious campaign has been unpresidential. The businessman has said he would consider running as a third-party candidate if the GOP doesn’t treat him better.
That, experts say, would severely hurt the GOP’s chances of beating Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton and winning back the White House.
Trump stressed during and after the debate that he would prefer to run as a Republican.
I would beat her definitely as a Republican, Trump told reporters afterwards. As an independent is tougher.
Preibus told reporters after the debate that he isn’t worried about Trump about running as an independent, saying their relationship is great.
I don’t think he was ready tonight to raise his hand, Preibus said. I think this is new for him. He’s at the center stage podium.
Preibus added that going third party is a death-wish.
But I don’t see that happening, he said. You can’t win an election against Hillary Clinton unless you’re running as a Republican. Donald Trump gets that. We do, too. I think this is all going to work out just fine.
Asked if the party would back Trump if he did win the GOP nod, Preibus said, Of course.