Embattled Republican
presidential candidate Donald Trump hit back on Sunday at critics who say he
went too far with caustic comments about a U.S. television news anchor,
insisting no apology was necessary and defending his relations with women.
Trump is under fire for
criticizing Fox anchor Megyn Kelly during and after a Republican debate on
Thursday. Asked about Kelly in a CNN interview on Friday, Trump said: "You
could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her
wherever."
The real estate mogul and
television personality, who remains ahead of his 16 rivals in the race for the
2016 Republican presidential nomination, appeared on Sunday news shows to rebut
the outrage triggered by his off-the-cuff talk.
"I've had such an
amazing relationship with women in business. They are amazing executives. They
are killers. They are phenomenal," Trump said on ABC's "This
Week".
Asked if he thought he
had gone too far, Trump said, "No, not at all."
Trump told CNN he had
"great relationships" with women and had hired thousands, including
many top-level employees, adding, "I cherish women."
It has been a recurring
pattern in the campaign: Trump makes an offensive comment, incurs a firestorm
of reaction and critics sound the death knell for his campaign.
So far, he has survived
the backlash, including Republican anger over his belittling the war hero
status of U.S. Senator John McCain, the party's 2008 nominee.
Trump was barred from an
important gathering of conservative activists on Saturday and drew another
round of denunciations from fellow Republicans.
Republican candidates
Carly Fiorina, Scott Walker, Lindsey Graham, Rick Perry, Rand Paul, Marco Rubio
and George Pataki denounced his comments about Kelly on Twitter or in
statements. Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush called on Trump to apologize.
"They were
completely inappropriate and offensive comments. Period," Fiorina said
Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union."
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