Will Trump Endorse a Candidate?

This transcript is automatically generated

As it's -- -- -- campaign season is in full swing many candidates have.

Gone to New York to visit one man and now that man is going to be moderator of the debate joining us on the phone.

Donald Trump thanks for joining us hello -- so what is this about moderating a debate.

Well the folks at the news Max and lots of other rebel Republicans have called me and they really wanted me to do it and there's you know -- a big big group.

And I guess they reach over a hundred million people it's going to be a big debate and they sit would you moderate.

And I thought about it and it's certainly something different from me and I say yes -- do it.

And it will you endorse one candidate after that debate.

Well at some point well sometime after the debate not before the debate but after I think would be inappropriate.

It before the debate but sometime after the debate I'll probably endorse somebody -- Each candidate hiss or many candidates have gone to your offices in new York and met with you privately.

It is almost been a pilgrimage.

To see it appears.

Donald Trump what about that what -- the conversations like with these candidates.

Who seemed to be trying to get your endorsement.

Well first of all it's an honor for me I've gotten to know some of them very well and maybe they even became friends -- -- -- -- -- will be -- endorse one person over another but let's hope -- well.

But I've gotten -- some pretty talented people and and a couple of cases I think really talented people.

Can do we'll see what happens but they do want the endorsement they don't come up for money they come up for the endorsement and I think the primary reason is.

As you know when I was running I left because of a very successful show -- did it really temperatures because of the equal time laws.

So I left and I was in first place and it was sort of interest in me and I looked at it the day before in fact I was watching a certain -- show viewers.

I won't mention the name of their -- but they had the polls out and I was first generation you know I'm leaving tomorrow that the big upfront for NBC and the fact is I represent a large group of people that are tired of seeing this country being just totally ripped off.

Whether it's by OPEC look at oil today is over a hundred dollars a barrel and is no reason sport except -- twelve guys sit around a table in this that the price of oil.

And you know this streets of I have stayed all the time I've been there many times this streets are paved in gold and all we have -- -- -- and it's ridiculous and you know and other countries -- mean many many countries -- just just ripping this -- so.

There's a large group of people that really are listening to what I'm saying and a lot of people are saying.

So I think probably still looking for that endorsement -- -- really what they are looking for.

But you're saying now that after this debate sometime after the debate you're going to actually endorse one of the candidates out there as you had been saying for sometime that if if that person didn't really materialize for you that you would actually consider some kind of independent run is that on the back your modest.

Both statements are true I don't endorse somebody and if I hit somebody gets -- who obviously it wouldn't be you know if if I don't somebody -- with that person.

But if somebody else gets in who is somebody that I don't think -- Appropriate for the job I don't think could wind I don't think would do well.

And maybe not be a good president and -- the economy continues to be bad I would run as an independent yes I don't want to do that I love what I'm doing.

And I'm doing it well but if if those circumstances have happened to happen I would do that yes.

So you said that for the economy that President Obama in your mind is not the right person he's been very detrimental to the economy.

But there are many people out there as you know who say if there's a third party run an independent run that would essentially hand the presidency back to -- Obama.

Well it depends on who you're talking about he could also -- all fairness he could also being.

Having somebody that would run or who is somewhat on the liberal side that would be obviously bad for him I think I probably -- the Republicans certainly more that I ordered him.

But at the same time I really believe it's time that a third party candidate could absolutely run and win.

I believe that I think that can happen I think it's -- People are very unhappy and I must say I'm a Republican but people are very unhappy with the Republicans and -- very very unhappy with.

The Democrats and the president in particular so.

If there was ever a time for third party this would be it.

Give me your quick assessment of the Republican field right now in the state of play as you see it.

Well it's looking like -- people it's looking like two candidates obviously and Germans taken a tremendous beating over the last I've got to know almost all of amended a lot of terrific people but government's taken a tremendous beating I really like them a lot.

I don't know what he's going to be announcing tomorrow but it certainly is not a pleasant period of time for him.

Newt is a rocket ship -- come from nowhere and he's leading the pack now.

And Mitt Romney am -- -- -- because he's done so well in the debates and he's a talented guy.

Great look great everything and he just doesn't seem to.

Pick up those those poll numbers when somebody leaves affirming goes -- ratio does or somebody does he doesn't seem to pick up those poll numbers and I don't think anybody including you -- me and I don't think anybody really knows why so little surprising to a lot of people.

But certainly those are the two candidates -- a leading and -- only thirty days left essentially thirty days left it would seem to be that those would be the candidates.

-- that one of them will get the nomination.

The last thing you're going to meet with speaker Gingrich on Monday in New York.

What are the things yet another private conversations sort of the things you're looking for what what are you in Canada and seeing in these candidates as they visit you in this ahead of this meeting on Monday.

Well what -- what are you looking toward that meeting to do.

He's coming to trump tower on Monday and will talk like I have with most of the other candidates and I'll be talking about OPEC going to be talking about certainly China Mike that -- There's nobody is ever written just like China and -- But nobody no country no nobody I mean it's terrible what's happening -- that we allow them to get away with -- and I'll be discussing that and I'll be discussing many other issues.

But I'd known -- don't miss -- I've known and you were you know long time and it's actually a member of a great club that I don't in Washington right outside of Washington.

And he's a tremendous guy and everybody that -- really likes them a lot that tells -- something by the way.

Good enough plenty of people that you and I both know what people that work at different clubs and places I know they don't like those people but.

He's a very popular guy there and and frankly those -- -- very talented people both did really well in the states.

And it just seems like it's going to be between -- I've -- has been up and he'll be up again.

And I think that -- on on Monday it would just have a long and -- -- conversation.

Last thing for people out there who say this is turning -- -- a reality show this this primary election.

And now with you moderating a debate before the Iowa caucus is some will say I'm sure it's even more so how do you respond.

Well look I love this country I wanna see the best person get and then go against Obama we have to get rid of obamacare we have to get rid of a lot of bad things that have happened over the last few years.

And I just really feel that you know this is so far beyond anything else this is really -- -- -- you in the past this is.

Just about the most important election we've had and a hundred years -- it is so important because the country's.

At a point where that goes in the wrong direction any longer it's going to be very very hard for this country to come back.

So I'm really not feeling it in any other way I mean I'm honored that they ask me -- probably would get great ratings on the ratings machine for whatever reason that's what they say I'm.

And all of the newspapers anyway so I think it will get great ratings system based.

But you know I really am doing it for one reason and that's for the country I really want to ask some questions that I don't really think have been asked.

Donald Trump thank you very much of the time.

Thank you very much --

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Will Trump Endorse a Candidate?

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