Transcript - Donald Trump Vlog - Deleted: From the Desk of Donald Trump - Great Debate - December 13, 2011 | Factba.se

Donald Trump

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

A terrible thing is happening, people can't stand the Democrats and they can't stand the Republicans now. I have a debate coming up, but only two people are showing up, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich and I give them both a lot of credit because they have the guts to come. But a lot of them aren't coming because they think I'm going to run for political office, something I can't do now because of equal time.

Donald Trump

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

I have a big show and you're not allowed to run because it's an equal time provision. And it's very unfair that Obama can go on all these shows and fly around on Air Force One. And I can't because I happen to have a show called The Apprentice on television, but around the middle of May, I'll be able to do whatever I want.

Donald Trump

00:00:45 - 00:00:58 (13 sec)

And I could run as an independent. The Republican Party does not want me running as an independent. So they've made this debate pretty impossible, although it could be an interesting chat with Newt Gingrich.

Donald Trump

00:00:58 - 00:01:10 (12 sec)

And it could be an interesting time. They want me to announce that. I won't run as an independent candidate and I won't do that because of the Republicans take the wrong person.

Donald Trump

00:01:10 - 00:01:37 (27 sec)

I would in fact seriously consider running. In fact, I already had my financial disclosure form made I printed it in my book because I'm so proud of the job I've done and the great company I've built. But I won't agree not to run if the wrong person is in there, somebody that's not going to beat Obama or if the economy continues to be bit and we have the wrong person, I would seriously think about running.

Donald Trump

00:01:37 - 00:02:05 (27 sec)

But because of the fact that the Republicans are upset and because of the fact that I refuse to give up the possibility of running as an independent candidate, I've decided to cancel the debate. I don't want to waste a lot of newts time or Rick Santorum's time or Donald Trump's time. So I won't give up the possibility of come around June running as an independent candidate.

Donald Trump

00:02:05 - 00:02:35 (30 sec)

I just don't think it's fair to myself to the country, to all of the millions of people that are following what I say, because they're tired of having this country being ripped off by China, by OPEC, by South Korea, by Mexico, by every single country. There is -- everybody is ripping off the United States and making us a poor nation. So I'm not going to give up the possibility of running as an independent candidate.

Donald Trump

00:02:35 - 00:02:46 (11 sec)

And because of that, I think it's inappropriate that we have the debate. I want to thank Rick Santorum. I want to thank Newt Gingrich, you had guts, you had courage.

Donald Trump

00:02:46 - 00:02:54 (8 sec)

There was never a doubt in your minds about coming to the debate. We would have had a good time. We would have brought out some good issues.

Donald Trump

00:02:54 - 00:03:05 (11 sec)

But the most important thing is I can't give up that possibility of running. I just feel I owe it to myself to my family and perhaps most importantly to.