Moderator David Muir asked Republican candidates a tough question — would you allow families of American hostages to raise money to free their loved ones from jihadis, such as now-murdered captive James Foley?

Trump responded in an empathetic way, honoring Foley but warning that terrorists are encouraged by payments.

“You just cannot negotiate that way with terrorists, or you’re gonna have so many other James Foleys,” he said.

He remarked that he knew James Foley’s mother Diane “very well,” called his family “tremendous people,” and even revealed that he raised money for their foundation. “James Foley was a great young man. His parents are incredible people. They’ve done such a good job, since his since his death,” he said.

“James, that was really the first that we saw, really visually saw — it was so horrible,” Trump said, referring to the video of Foley being beheaded by the Islamic State.