Donald Trump defended his Twitter tirades on Thursday, and said most of the people he hits on social media had it coming.

"It's OK, most of them deserved it," said Trump of the personal insults he broadcasts on his Twitter. "I believe in fighting back when people are against me, when they tell lies, you know, I have the power of this instrument, and frankly sometimes I'll use that. And I agree, sometimes it will revert back or sometimes maybe it doesn't come out — you have to be careful with it."

The New York Times published a two-page list of all the "people, places and things Donald Trump has insulted on Twitter since declaring his candidacy for president."

His wife Melania Trump said in the same interview that as first lady, she would use social media to help prevent bullying.

"What's going on is very hurtful to children, to some adults as well," she said. "We need to teach [children] how to use it, what is right to say, what is not right to say, because it is very bad out there and children get hurt."

The GOP nominee appeared to agree with his wife's stance. "She feels very strongly about. She understands it very well," he said.