Donald Trump says Republican front-runners Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are “absolutely destroying each other” on the campaign trail and President Barack Obama will ultimately be the “beneficiary” from the seething personal attacks. Trump also told Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren Wednesday he is still considering an independent presidential run, but would prefer to back a Republican as he would probably siphon enough votes from the GOP nominee to also benefit Obama.
Trump’s daughter Ivanka was recently quoted in Hollywoodlife.com as saying her father has not yet made up his mind whether he will seek the presidency, adding that “he’d make a good president.”
This prompted Van Susteren to again raise the issue — which has hovered over the 2012 election ever since the real estate mogul withdrew as a GOP presidential possible last year — and ask if he was “leaning” toward a run.
“Well, Ivanka is very outstanding, and it’s nice to know that she loves her father — but you know, it would be nice if we had some candidates that could get out there and compete fairly with each other,” Trump said. “Ultimately, one will win — but don’t destroy each other — I mean, they’re just absolutely destroying each other ... and the beneficiary is going to be Obama.
“A lot of people want me to run — I mean, I’m getting it all the time. You saw the poll that came out recently where it said I was the number one independent candidate,” he said.” I am concerned if I run as an independent, that I’ll take a lot of votes away from the Republicans and Obama will walk in — so that does concern me a lot.”
Van Susteren then switched gears and noted that Obama said in his State of the Union address that he would be getting tougher on China — which has been accused of manipulating its currency — a recurring theme for the real estate tycoon. Trump called Obama’s statement “a joke.”
“I heard that, and I just laughed to myself because China is laughing along with me — they can’t believe what they’re getting away with,” Trump said. “And he’s saying that because now people are understanding before him that China is just walking away with this country.
“I think he’s way over his head — I don’t think he knows what's happening — and this is the first time I’ve heard this kind of a statement from him,” he continued. “I think he’s been listening to me probably on your show. . . . I’ve been saying this for three years — and now, all of a sudden, he comes out with this stuff.
“In fact, I was — I was absolutely shocked when I heard him all of a sudden make this strong statement about China because he hasn’t been making them at all. But what is he doing? He’s doing nothing,” Trump said. “That’s the problem — his speech was all rhetorical. It was just words — and it was very boring.”
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