Transcript - Interview: Donald Trump with Halperin/Heilemann on Bloomberg With All Due Respect -- November 2, 2015 | Factbase

John Heilemann

00:00:00 - 00:00:03 (4 sec)

Corporate inversions, right. You've said this is a serious problem.

Donald Trump

00:00:03 - 00:00:04 (1 sec)

A tremendous problem.

John Heilemann

00:00:04 - 00:00:08 (4 sec)

OK. So you've also argued that bankruptcy laws -- you've taken advantage of bankruptcy laws --

Donald Trump

00:00:08 - 00:00:08 (0 sec)

John Heilemann

00:00:08 - 00:00:15 (7 sec)

Corporations have done that. It's within the law. You take advantage. How is -- how are inversions different from taking advantage of the bankruptcy laws?

Donald Trump

00:00:15 - 00:00:16 (1 sec)

Well, the difference --

John Heilemann

00:00:16 - 00:00:16 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:00:16 - 00:00:17 (0 sec)

John Heilemann

00:00:17 - 00:00:19 (3 sec)

This is companies trying to benefit their shareholders. How is it different?

Donald Trump

00:00:19 - 00:00:25 (6 sec)

Much different in this way. You can stop it so easily. There's $2.5 trillion out there -- at least. It could be four, could be five.

Donald Trump

00:00:25 - 00:00:37 (12 sec)

But $2.5 trillion that they know of. This is money that wants to come back to this country. The corporations want to bring back; they can't bring it back in because of the tax laws. They're so prohibitive, so bad and so complicated.

Donald Trump

00:00:37 - 00:00:52 (15 sec)

So they can't bring it. So now what's happening is companies are leaving our country. And you're reading about it. You're seeing Pfizer, you're seeing some -- they're leaving our country and thinking about -- massive numbers of companies are thinking about leaving to go out and get that money.

Donald Trump

00:00:52 - 00:00:55 (3 sec)

Also to get a better tax deal. So that's a lot different.

John Heilemann

00:00:55 - 00:01:02 (7 sec)

So when you're saying it's a serious problem, what you're saying is the law is the problem, not the companies' behavior. It's not bad what Pfizer is doing --

Donald Trump

00:01:02 - 00:01:20 (18 sec)

No, and there's no way you can stop it really other than lowering the taxes because right now, John, it's prohibitive to bring that money. They'd have to pay so much, they'd have to be fools to bring it in. But under my plan and a couple of others' -- but nobody even knew about corporate inversion until I brought it in. I mean, these are the candidates -- they don't even know what corporate inversion is.

Donald Trump

00:01:20 - 00:01:32 (12 sec)

I do know, I really know. You're going to lose hundreds of thousands of jobs to other countries because of corporate inversions. What you're going to do is you're going to lower the taxes, bring the money in, and they're going to use that money to build and do things in the United States.

John Heilemann

00:01:32 - 00:01:35 (2 sec)

Again, so you're not criticizing Pfizer at all --

Donald Trump

00:01:35 - 00:01:35 (1 sec)

No, really, I'm not.

John Heilemann

00:01:35 - 00:01:38 (3 sec)

-- or companies like that. It's just about the law.

Donald Trump

00:01:38 - 00:01:57 (19 sec)

Look, in the old days, you'd leave New York and go down to Florida. Or you'd leave New Jersey and go to Texas to save taxes. Now because of the way the world is, so different, you leave the United States and you go to Ireland and you go to different places in Asia and you go to Europe. I mean, it's a different world, and we have to compete better.

Mark Halperin

00:01:57 - 00:01:59 (1 sec)

This is a great New York institution.

Donald Trump

00:01:59 - 00:01:59 (0 sec)

Mark Halperin

00:01:59 - 00:02:00 (2 sec)

So is Saturday Night Live. You're doing it this week.

Donald Trump

00:02:00 - 00:02:01 (0 sec)

Mark Halperin

00:02:01 - 00:02:03 (2 sec)

Nervous? Excited? How do you feel about it?

Donald Trump

00:02:03 - 00:02:12 (9 sec)

Well, I did it like 11 years ago when "The Apprentice"" became number one and they asked me to do it. And I'm just excited about it. I think it's great. We're going to meet with Lorne Michaels today."

Donald Trump

00:02:12 - 00:02:15 (3 sec)

They're going to come up with some skits. And it's going to be very exciting --

John Heilemann

00:02:15 - 00:02:16 (1 sec)

I'll give you an idea. Pretty good one, right? You're going to try that?

Donald Trump

00:02:16 - 00:02:17 (0 sec)

That's a good one.

John Heilemann

00:02:17 - 00:02:17 (1 sec)

Think about it.

Donald Trump

00:02:17 - 00:02:18 (0 sec)

I'll think about it.

John Heilemann

00:02:18 - 00:02:19 (1 sec)

I don't want a royalty, but --

Donald Trump

00:02:19 - 00:02:19 (1 sec)

I'll think about it.

John Heilemann

00:02:19 - 00:02:22 (3 sec)

So this rink, right? It was once the largest ice rink in the world --

Donald Trump

00:02:22 - 00:02:23 (1 sec)

John Heilemann

00:02:23 - 00:02:27 (4 sec)

Now it's -- you know, this lot [Inaudible] rink is bigger than this, obviously. That was back in the 50s when it was built --

Donald Trump

00:02:27 - 00:02:32 (5 sec)

Well, we had more people. Oh, yeah, they have massive lakes. You know, they have lakes, in all fairness. [Laughter]

John Heilemann

00:02:32 - 00:02:33 (0 sec)

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Donald Trump

00:02:33 - 00:02:36 (3 sec)

But we have more people than any other ice rink by far in the world.

John Heilemann

00:02:36 - 00:02:37 (1 sec)

Right. Do you skate yourself?

Donald Trump

00:02:37 - 00:02:38 (1 sec)

John Heilemann

00:02:38 - 00:02:40 (2 sec)

What do you do for exercise if it's not ice skating?

Donald Trump

00:02:40 - 00:02:43 (3 sec)

Don't ask me! I run for office. This is what I needed. [Crosstalk]

John Heilemann

00:02:43 - 00:02:45 (2 sec)

C'mon, seriously? No exercise?

Donald Trump

00:02:45 - 00:02:49 (4 sec)

No, I play golf. I play golf. I play tennis. I love sports.

Donald Trump

00:02:49 - 00:02:51 (3 sec)

I don't have much time for exercising, but I do love sports.

Mark Halperin

00:02:51 - 00:02:57 (5 sec)

OK, here's a question I've been wanting to ask you for awhile. We almost never get to see you eat. What do you like to eat? What's like, Donald Trump's favorite food?

Donald Trump

00:02:57 - 00:02:58 (1 sec)

I love to eat the food we have in here.

Mark Halperin

00:02:58 - 00:03:00 (2 sec)

Really? Like what do they have in there?

Donald Trump

00:03:00 - 00:03:06 (6 sec)

I love steak and hamburger and pasta and French fries. All the things we shouldn't be eating is what I love.

John Heilemann

00:03:06 - 00:03:09 (3 sec)

Well, then you need to do some more exercise if you eat that well!

Mark Halperin

00:03:09 - 00:03:11 (2 sec)

Are you like a normal eater, like three meals a day?

Donald Trump

00:03:11 - 00:03:14 (4 sec)

Pretty much. Pretty much. I try. A lot of times I can't because I'm pretty busy.

Mark Halperin

00:03:14 - 00:03:17 (3 sec)

What's a food you like that you know you shouldn't eat but you just can't resist?

Donald Trump

00:03:17 - 00:03:25 (8 sec)

Well, bacon, eggs, steak -- I don't know. I hear good and bad. I hear good things. Sometimes they'll come out with a report; steak is great.

Donald Trump

00:03:25 - 00:03:32 (7 sec)

Then they come out with [Inaudible]. So the bottom line: they don't know what they're doing. So I eat what I like. But it's been -- you know, it's been working.

Mark Halperin

00:03:32 - 00:03:34 (2 sec)

How many pieces of bacon would you eat normally in one sitting?

Donald Trump

00:03:34 - 00:03:35 (1 sec)

Mark Halperin

00:03:35 - 00:03:35 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:03:35 - 00:03:36 (0 sec)

Mark Halperin

00:03:36 - 00:03:36 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:03:36 - 00:03:37 (1 sec)

Mark Halperin

00:03:37 - 00:03:38 (1 sec)

John Heilemann

00:03:38 - 00:03:44 (6 sec)

New York's team, the New York Mets last night lost the World Series against Kansas City Royals. Is that because the Kansas City Royals are great or because the Mets kind of blew it?

Donald Trump

00:03:44 - 00:03:54 (10 sec)

Well, they blew it a little bit. But they've really turned out to be a great team, Kansas City. And the Mets had a wonderful season. They've come so far and they should be proud of themselves.

Donald Trump

00:03:54 - 00:04:03 (8 sec)

I think Kansas City really had a great winning team. And they've said during the whole season they'd come back. I love these comeback people. They would come back.

Donald Trump

00:04:03 - 00:04:12 (9 sec)

They'd be losing the game in the ninth inning. I think they practically set a record for comebacks. There's something special about that. They came back on a number of occasions against the Mets.

Donald Trump

00:04:12 - 00:04:13 (2 sec)

But the Mets had a great season.

Mark Halperin

00:04:13 - 00:04:17 (4 sec)

You've got a son, you've got grandkids. What do you do to make them laugh?

Donald Trump

00:04:17 - 00:04:36 (19 sec)

Well, I spend as much time as I can with them. You know, the time has been -- it was tight before, and now this is ridiculous. Although more and more, I'm giving management over to my children and my executives of the company. But I do nothing to make them laugh.

Donald Trump

00:04:36 - 00:04:38 (1 sec)

I just love them.

Mark Halperin

00:04:38 - 00:04:39 (1 sec)

No funny faces --

Donald Trump

00:04:39 - 00:04:46 (7 sec)

A little bit probably. I don't think I want to do it on this one, but a little bit, yeah --

John Heilemann

00:04:46 - 00:04:49 (3 sec)

Oh, come on, give us just a little bit.

Mark Halperin

00:04:49 - 00:04:57 (7 sec)

Bernie Sanders -- Bernie Sanders does a monster imitation for his grandkids.

Donald Trump

00:04:57 - 00:04:59 (3 sec)

Yeah... Bernie Sanders. He blew it. Bernie Sanders blew it.

Donald Trump

00:04:59 - 00:05:11 (12 sec)

You know what? He blew it with the emails. When he gave that up, I said, great sound bite, but that's the end of him. That's the end of him. By the way, not getting the crowds anymore.

Donald Trump

00:05:11 - 00:05:21 (10 sec)

It's over. When he gave up the emails, which he shouldn't have given up, I said, great sound bite. He's dead. And he's dead.

John Heilemann

00:05:21 - 00:05:33 (12 sec)

This rink, right? You were talking before in extraordinary detail about how the ice gets made, the Freon versus this and that. Have you ever driven the Zamboni?

Donald Trump

00:05:33 - 00:05:34 (1 sec)

I have, one time.

John Heilemann

00:05:34 - 00:05:36 (2 sec)

Really? What was that like?

Donald Trump

00:05:36 - 00:05:36 (1 sec)

Mark Halperin

00:05:36 - 00:05:39 (3 sec)

What things have you achieved since your father passed away that you think he'd be really proud of?

Donald Trump

00:05:39 - 00:05:50 (11 sec)

Well, he was a spectacular guy. He was a wonderful builder and a wonderful person. Had a great heart -- we talked about heart. But he was a very good negotiator.

Donald Trump

00:05:50 - 00:06:00 (9 sec)

And I learned a lot. And he gave me a loan when I -- I said, Dad, I want to go out to Manhattan. He said no, no, no, you don't know anything about that. Let's stay in Brooklyn and Queens.

Donald Trump

00:06:00 - 00:06:11 (12 sec)

I said no, I want to go out to Manhattan. When I was very young! And I came to Manhattan, I did really well right from the beginning. And it was just -- you know, he was just somebody who was very special.

Mark Halperin

00:06:11 - 00:06:18 (7 sec)

What do you think he'd think about your running for president?

John Heilemann

00:06:18 - 00:06:19 (0 sec)

Donald Trump

00:06:19 - 00:06:43 (24 sec)

I think he would say, amazing and go do it. You know, he came up with a saying -- but he was a very tough cookie. But he came up with a statement because when I worked for him, I did great stuff and I had great success even working for him and brought it to a very high level. And he said to one of the big business magazines, "Everything he touches turns to gold."" And I said -- and that statement's followed me."

Donald Trump

00:06:43 - 00:06:49 (6 sec)

You know, because this was not a father who would normally say that. This was a very tough cookie. Not easy, but terrific. A terrific guy.

Donald Trump

00:06:49 - 00:06:58 (9 sec)

But he said that. He made that statement. And that's probably the greatest compliment that I have ever had. But he said, "Everything he touches turns to gold."" So let's see what happens."

John Heilemann

00:06:58 - 00:06:59 (1 sec)

Was he a political guy?

Donald Trump

00:06:59 - 00:07:07 (8 sec)

He was political, but different kind of political. He was political to get a building permit, political to be able to build a house or a building in Brooklyn or Queens.

Mark Halperin

00:07:07 - 00:07:09 (2 sec)

There's nothing more political than that!

Donald Trump

00:07:09 - 00:07:13 (4 sec)

That's pretty political. [News Break] [22:55] [25:52]

John Heilemann

00:07:13 - 00:07:25 (12 sec)

So let's go back to the summer of 1986. Your office, not that far from here. You looked down and saw what? And why did you then decide to get involved in this project?

Donald Trump

00:07:25 - 00:07:45 (20 sec)

I saw for years a mess. I saw a place that was under construction, which is the Wollman Rink, and it was under construction for many years -- eight, to be exact. And I said, what's going on? We're talking about a slab of concrete. Now, it's actually much more complicated than that, to be honest with you, but still, it's a very large slab of concrete.

Donald Trump

00:07:45 - 00:07:54 (9 sec)

And after a number of years, I call the mayor and say, what's going on? And nobody was ever working. They were having a lunch break all day long. Hundreds of people. They'd all be sitting.

Donald Trump

00:07:54 - 00:07:57 (3 sec)

And it has been a great experiment. I mean, you may want to continue with your question, but it's certainly been a great experiment.

Mark Halperin

00:07:57 - 00:07:58 (1 sec)

What was in it for you?

Donald Trump

00:07:58 - 00:08:08 (9 sec)

Well, I just wanted to get it done. I had a young daughter at the time, young -- and still young, Ivanka. And she said, Dad, I'd love to go ice skating. But thank rink is never going to open.

Donald Trump

00:08:08 - 00:08:15 (8 sec)

And you know, we took in seven to eight years. Seven seasons and eight years total. And I said, let me look into it. So I would look down and I'd see it, right from Trump Tower.

Donald Trump

00:08:15 - 00:08:23 (8 sec)

And then I would pass it and I would look at the men. I know a lot of the men, because the construction business I know. And I would see a lot of the workers and they would wave to me, "Hi

Donald Trump

00:08:23 - 00:08:25 (2 sec)

Nobody cares." And I went to see Koch

Donald Trump

00:08:25 - 00:08:29 (3 sec)

And I went to Ed Koch, I said, "Let me do it. If I don't do it under $2 million and do it fast

Mark Halperin

00:08:29 - 00:08:38 (10 sec)

Right. So is this a story about the ineffectiveness of the public sector and the effectiveness of the private sector, or does this say something special about your capacity to get things done?

Donald Trump

00:08:38 - 00:08:55 (17 sec)

Well, I do have a great capacity to get things done. But it also has to do with the private sector. I mean, I don't know if anybody could have beaten my record. As an example, the old post office under construction right now on Pennsylvania Avenue right between Congress and the White House, boom! The most beautiful building.

Donald Trump

00:08:55 - 00:09:02 (7 sec)

It is incredible. I'm under budget, ahead of schedule. Which is what it should be. And we're going to open -- we were supposed to open in '17.

Donald Trump

00:09:02 - 00:09:14 (12 sec)

We're now going to open probably in September of '16, which is very good timing, actually. Right on Pennsylvania Avenue. So I get things done. But another one I'm very proud of, Ferry Point.

Donald Trump

00:09:14 - 00:09:27 (13 sec)

They had a big development in the Bronx that was a disaster, under construction probably for 30 years. Nobody really knows when it started it was so long ago. And I got it done in one year. And it is open now and it is very successful.

Mark Halperin

00:09:27 - 00:09:43 (17 sec)

To people who say that Trump has no government experience, he can't possibly be president because that's not what being president is about, this was a government problem. The city did not get these things built. So what are examples of things now that aren't getting done that you think that you could bring the same skills to if you were president, just the way you got this thing built?

Donald Trump

00:09:43 - 00:09:48 (5 sec)

I will give you one example. Wars. Wars aren't getting done. It's the same thing.

Donald Trump

00:09:48 - 00:10:05 (17 sec)

I mean, you look at ISIS, you look at what's going on with what we're doing. Then we send 50 people over there, our 50 best. Why would anybody say that we're sending? Why does the president say we are sending 50 people? Those people are in great danger now because we're saying that. Why wouldn't he send them if he's got to send them.

Donald Trump

00:10:05 - 00:10:21 (16 sec)

First of all, either win or don't win, win or get out. But he sends 50 people over there; he then he makes a public announcement to the world, 50 people. Well, those men and women right now being hunted. They are looking for those men.

Donald Trump

00:10:21 - 00:10:25 (4 sec)

Why does he have to say that he is sending them out? Do you know how dangerous that is?

Mark Halperin

00:10:25 - 00:10:31 (7 sec)

Your critics would say that you've just compared building an ice skating rink to stopping wars. [Crosstalk]

Mark Halperin

00:10:31 - 00:10:33 (1 sec)

Donald Trump

00:10:33 - 00:10:56 (23 sec)

Because it has to do with efficiency, it has to do with commonsense, it has to do with knowledge. Look, I wrote a book in the year 2000, and I talked about Osama bin Laden because I watched this guy talking. You know, he was a terrorist, well known, and I wrote about him in a book. And Joe Scarborough said, hey, when was that book written? It was in 2000.

Donald Trump

00:10:56 - 00:11:12 (16 sec)

It was before the World Trade Center came down. And he goes, whoa, that's amazing. Look, you know, I have a knack for things, and I know what I am doing. And this country is so far behind in every way, in trade, in military.

Donald Trump

00:11:12 - 00:11:26 (14 sec)

We are so far -- I watched the other day, General Orieono. He's leaving. He said we are the least prepared -- he was talking about Army. But he said we are the least prepared that we have ever been -- I think he said ever been -- in the history of the country.

Donald Trump

00:11:26 - 00:11:34 (8 sec)

Now, he said might have been since the Second World War, but I think it was essentially said ever. We can't have that.

John Heilemann

00:11:34 - 00:11:42 (8 sec)

So let's ask the question this way, a different way. Are you -- is the argument that you are making that the skill set required to be of the president of the United States is the same as the skill set of a CEO?

Donald Trump

00:11:42 - 00:11:43 (1 sec)

No. No. I'm not.

John Heilemann

00:11:43 - 00:11:46 (2 sec)

And if they're not the same, what are the differences?

Donald Trump

00:11:46 - 00:11:56 (11 sec)

OK, they're not the same. But I am better than those people. I will do a better job. I will do a better job with the military, I will do a better job with jobs.

Donald Trump

00:11:56 - 00:12:00 (3 sec)

I know my competition. I understand life. I understand competition --

John Heilemann

00:12:00 - 00:12:00 (1 sec)

But again, just what --

Donald Trump

00:12:00 - 00:12:04 (4 sec)

See these buildings over there? I've built numerous of them. And they're successful!

John Heilemann

00:12:04 - 00:12:15 (11 sec)

But what are the differences, though? What's the difference? There are skills that are required to be a successful CEO, skills that are required to be a successful president. You said they're different. So what are the differences? What's the way in which you'd have to change your game if you were president?

Donald Trump

00:12:15 - 00:12:36 (21 sec)

To be a CEO and depending on companies and everything else, because every company is different, OK? But to be a CEO, you have to be, boom, and get it done. To be a president, I think you have to be boom and get it done, but I also think you have to have heart. We have a lot of people that need help. We have a lot of people in this country that are not making it, and they are in trouble.

Donald Trump

00:12:36 - 00:12:53 (17 sec)

And I think you really -- I always say I am a conservative with heart. Because people think conservatives don't have heart. You know, you hear about Obamacare and people want to knock the hell out of Obamacare, and they should be, because it is horrible. And by the way, as I told you at our last meeting, actually quite a while ago, watch the premiums.

Donald Trump

00:12:53 - 00:13:02 (9 sec)

Well, you've seen what's happened. The premiums are going through the roof; it's not working. It's not going to work, and it's going to collapse in '17, unless something major is done in Congress. And they shouldn't do it.

Donald Trump

00:13:02 - 00:13:10 (8 sec)

They should come up with a much better plan. But I like to say, you need great abilities, but you also have to have big, beautiful hearts. That's important.

Mark Halperin

00:13:10 - 00:13:22 (12 sec)

Oftentimes when people are asked about, are you ready for president, someone will say, well, nobody's ever really ready. No one can step in until you're in the job. Is that how you feel about it, or do you feel like because of accomplishments like this from day one, you could walk in and do it?

Donald Trump

00:13:22 - 00:13:25 (4 sec)

Well, this isn't one of my big things, but this is -- [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump

00:13:25 - 00:13:37 (12 sec)

You know what this shows? This shows simplicity. Now it wasn't that simple. They were using Freon; they should've used brine. They were using -- and I tell the story where they had their engineer for making ice was located in Miami.

Donald Trump

00:13:37 - 00:13:48 (11 sec)

Immediately I said, why is an engineer for an ice skating rink in Miami? And it wasn't working. And they had -- they had all these copper pipes. Every night they'd lay them, and they'd be stolen. They'd lay them -- they lost a fortune.

Donald Trump

00:13:48 - 00:14:02 (14 sec)

What happened is I went to the Montreal Canadians -- a friend of mine works for the Montreal Canadians, the ice hockey team in Canada. And I said, "Do me a favor. Who do I speak to about making ice?"" And he gave me the people that the Montreal Canadians use. He came down and said

Mark Halperin

00:14:02 - 00:14:09 (6 sec)

Again, are you ready to be president from day one? No learning curve, step in and do it?

Donald Trump

00:14:09 - 00:14:28 (19 sec)

Hey look, Obama had no experience. I've always said talent is more important than experience. But I just don't think Obama as our president is a talented person, and he should never have been in this position. And he had no experience, and it is not his thing.

Donald Trump

00:14:28 - 00:14:43 (15 sec)

I mean, you have Democrats, you have Congressmen that have hardly ever seen him and hardly ever met him. He doesn't work the system. That is why he signs executive orders all the time because he can't get his own people to go along. But when it came to the war, as an example -- talk two examples.

Donald Trump

00:14:43 - 00:14:52 (9 sec)

We should have never been in Iraq. And you know that I said a long time ago, in 2003, 2004, don't do it. You're going to break up the balance of the Middle East. And boy, has that happened.

Donald Trump

00:14:52 - 00:15:10 (18 sec)

And you know it gave us ISIS, it gave us nothing but problems, all right? But then when we left, he should not have left the way he did. But when he announced a date for leaving, the enemy said -- and I immediately said, this is a disaster. He announced a specific day, "We will be out by such and such a day."" So the enemy says

Donald Trump

00:15:10 - 00:15:47 (37 sec)

I know it is politically -- I don't think even think it came out politically good because people say what do you mean 50? What can 50 people do? So I don't even think it was good for him politically. But you have to be quiet. General Patton didn't go and talk about, I am sending 50 men here, I'm sending 200 men here. He did the job, he knocked them out.

Donald Trump

00:15:47 - 00:15:59 (12 sec)

General Douglas MacArthur, you go back and look. These were not talkers. So I think it's -- and I really mean this strongly, I think it was a horrible thing that he announced that 50 people are going over to Syria.

Mark Halperin

00:15:59 - 00:16:13 (14 sec)

Thank you, Mr. Trump. We are going to be back with more Donald Trump, some news of the day, right after this. [Commercial Break]

Mark Halperin

00:16:13 - 00:16:21 (8 sec)

And now the stirring conclusion of the conversation with Donald Trump in Central Park where we started out asking him about his rival on the rise, Marco Rubio. [Begin Videotape]

Mark Halperin

00:16:21 - 00:16:29 (8 sec)

Well, Marco Rubio is now kind of a candidate on the rise. Some people are saying he's like Barack Obama. He actually compared you to Barack Obama at one point --

Donald Trump

00:16:29 - 00:16:29 (0 sec)

Mark Halperin

00:16:29 - 00:16:38 (9 sec)

-- and he said, like Barack Obama, you are not dignified or worthy of the office you are seeking. He said we have a president now with no class. I'm just wondering what you think --

Donald Trump

00:16:38 - 00:16:39 (2 sec)

Oh, is he the one that said that?

Mark Halperin

00:16:39 - 00:16:42 (3 sec)

What do you of the comparison? On issues in leadership --

Donald Trump

00:16:42 - 00:16:54 (12 sec)

I think he's highly overrated. I think he's an overrated person. I don't think he is going to make it. I noticed that the press, -- in fact, I was watching this morning one of the shows and they were talking about Marco Rubio.

Donald Trump

00:16:54 - 00:17:03 (9 sec)

I mean, he's nowhere near in the polls. He's -- I don't think personally he is going to make it. You know, I called him a lightweight. I said at one point he was a lightweight.

Donald Trump

00:17:03 - 00:17:10 (7 sec)

And I don't mean to be insulting, but I do describe people somehow well. I think Marco --

Mark Halperin

00:17:10 - 00:17:14 (4 sec)

You have been critical of him on immigration. Are there other issues?

Donald Trump

00:17:14 - 00:17:28 (15 sec)

Well, no, he's very critical -- I'm very critical. He was a member of the Gang of Eight, which basically wanted to have everybody come in and take over our country. All of a sudden, he went down in the polls and he immediately changed and got out. He is totally driven about what the public thinks.

Donald Trump

00:17:28 - 00:17:42 (14 sec)

No, I think he's not -- look. Bush got creamed in the debate, but he shouldn't -- if I had were the messenger, because the message is great. His delivery was poor. But the message is great.

Mark Halperin

00:17:42 - 00:17:43 (1 sec)

What's the message?

Donald Trump

00:17:43 - 00:17:57 (14 sec)

He doesn't show up. Marco doesn't show up to votes, he doesn't do things that you're supposed to do. He got elected senator, and you know, the same thing happened to him in Florida senate if you look, and I know a lot about Florida. I am there.

Donald Trump

00:17:57 - 00:18:05 (9 sec)

You saw the poll that came out today where I am beating him and Bush by a lot and Carson by a lot in Florida. I know Florida better than they know Florida. So what happens is --

Mark Halperin

00:18:05 - 00:18:09 (3 sec)

But you were talking of him as a state legislator, when he was the speaker.

Donald Trump

00:18:09 - 00:18:21 (13 sec)

No, no, he was in the senate, and he tried to get the top position or whatever. Tried to get the top -- a friend of mine told me, who was there with him. They fought, they fought, they got the top position. Two minutes after he had the top position, he was looking to run for Senate.

Donald Trump

00:18:21 - 00:18:30 (9 sec)

Then he runs for Senate, now he wants to be president. I would say -- maybe I am the last person to say this -- relax. Take it easy. Take it easy.

Donald Trump

00:18:30 - 00:18:38 (8 sec)

I think he is a highly overrated person. I've called him a lightweight. I think he is a lightweight. I hope I'm wrong about that.

Donald Trump

00:18:38 - 00:18:57 (18 sec)

We can't have -- I don't think he has -- look. You know why he has a chance? Because guys like you -- and I am not specifically referring to you. You a little bit, to be honest, you, a little bit. But I watched somebody on Joe's show this morning, he's fawning over him, He says how handsome he is, how good-looking -- I don't know.

Donald Trump

00:18:57 - 00:19:07 (11 sec)

I think I'm better looking than him. Am I better looking than him? So -- no, but they're talking about he is so handsome, he's so wonderful. And Joe goes, look where he is. He is way down here.

Donald Trump

00:19:07 - 00:19:26 (18 sec)

He's probably a nice person. Another thing that I didn't like about him and I don't like about him, he was -- he should have been more loyal to Bush. I was told -- I didn't know him at all -- I was told he would never run because Bush was his mentor, Bush really helped them, Bush did things. Well, I said, all right.

Donald Trump

00:19:26 - 00:19:37 (12 sec)

Good. Because I am a very loyal person, I am an extremely loyal person, to a fault, frankly. And maybe I would rather have it this way than the other way. He was very, very disloyal to Bush.

Donald Trump

00:19:37 - 00:19:38 (1 sec)

I don't like that.

John Heilemann

00:19:38 - 00:19:47 (9 sec)

Let me ask you about the debate about debates. What is it that you are looking for in a moderator or a set of moderators as we go forward? What are your criteria for moderators?

Donald Trump

00:19:47 - 00:20:03 (15 sec)

You know, John, I don't care that much honestly. I did well in the debates, all three of them. This last one, even CNBC had the winning, did you see that? CNBC had me winning the debate! I do think this: a debate should not be three hours like CNN. CNN did that for money.

Donald Trump

00:20:03 - 00:20:23 (21 sec)

I could stand up for 24 hours and debate, but the audience isn't going to watch it. Gone With the Wind is three hours, OK? Who's going to want to watch these guys, including me, for three hours? There are certain things we should get. The room was probably 100 degrees, the one room -- was 100 degrees out. All these things are very important things for a debate.

Donald Trump

00:20:23 - 00:20:30 (6 sec)

It is unfair. Now, speaking of Rubio, he's the one that's watched the most. He's the youngest, but I have never seen any human being sweat like that.

John Heilemann

00:20:30 - 00:20:36 (6 sec)

But your problem isn't liberal bias? A lot of your colleagues seem to feel as though these debates have been liberally biased.

Donald Trump

00:20:36 - 00:20:48 (12 sec)

Look, I thought the questions were very unfair, but they were unfair in my opinion from Fox. And they were a little bit unfair from CNN. And most of the unfairness was directed at me, so I am the one who should be complaining.

John Heilemann

00:20:48 - 00:20:55 (7 sec)

So when Senator Cruz says that only moderators who have voted in Republican primaries should be allowed to be in these debates, do you agree with that or you disagree with that?

Donald Trump

00:20:55 - 00:21:03 (8 sec)

I don't think it's a bad idea. But I can live either way. Look, I had a representative there. I don't care that much.

Donald Trump

00:21:03 - 00:21:14 (11 sec)

I think, frankly, I'd go a step further. I'm more of an economic person. The networks are making a fortune with the debates. The truth is, we should say, we should be like a basketball player.

Donald Trump

00:21:14 - 00:21:31 (17 sec)

We should go on strike and say, we want money for Wounded Warriors, or we want money for a great charity. The veterans, I would love to give it. Because CNN made a fortune, an absolute fortune. CNN had a two -- hour debate two days before the debate, and nobody told anybody.

Donald Trump

00:21:31 - 00:21:40 (9 sec)

They decided to make it three. Only for one reason, because they sold out all their advertising. They were getting $4,000 for a 30-second ad. They got $250,000.

Donald Trump

00:21:40 - 00:21:47 (7 sec)

Same thing with CNBC. I called up CNBC when they went from two hours to three. And they went to three. So Harwood lied.

Donald Trump

00:21:47 - 00:21:57 (10 sec)

You know Harwood lied when he said that's not true. He totally told a lie, a dirty lie. It was in all the papers that it was going to be a three-hour debate. Does that bother you? That's New York [Sirens in background].

Donald Trump

00:21:57 - 00:21:58 (1 sec)

That's called welcome to New York.

Mark Halperin

00:21:58 - 00:21:59 (1 sec)

We are outside.

Donald Trump

00:21:59 - 00:22:09 (10 sec)

It is both a beautiful and an unattractive sound you know, because it means trouble. But that is New York. So Harwood lied when he talked about the debate. And he lied big-league.

Donald Trump

00:22:09 - 00:22:21 (12 sec)

I called up through my people and myself. And within about three minutes, I got it down. It was like one of the easiest negotiations of all time. More important than moderators or anything else, they are going to have big audiences.

Donald Trump

00:22:21 - 00:22:22 (1 sec)

Let the money go to charity.

Mark Halperin

00:22:22 - 00:22:25 (2 sec)

We call this the "Rank the Trump"" bill. Thank you for welcoming us."

Donald Trump

00:22:25 - 00:22:26 (1 sec)

Thank you very much.

Mark Halperin

00:22:26 - 00:22:26 (0 sec)

We appreciate it.

Donald Trump

00:22:26 - 00:22:27 (1 sec)

Appreciate it. Thank is so much.

John Heilemann

00:22:27 - 00:22:28 (1 sec)

Actually want to give you one of these.

Donald Trump

00:22:28 - 00:22:30 (2 sec)

OK! [Laughter, End Videotape]

John Heilemann

00:22:30 - 00:22:35 (5 sec)

All right. Our thanks again to Donald Trump and to his giant block of ice.