Bill Emkow

Detroit Free Press

A day after he was shut down by a Flint pastor for talking politics in her church, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump said the interruption was planned.

"She had that in mind," he said. "There's no question about it."

Trump, whose comments came on "Fox & Friends" this morning, said: "When she got up to introduce me, she was so nervous, she was shaking. And I said, 'Wow, this is sort of strange.' "

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For those reading on mobile, watch the full interview on YouTube here.

Pastor Faith Green-Timmons said on Facebook on Wednesday night, "Had he stuck to what his camp claimed he came to do, we would not have had a problem!"

When asked whether the interruption bothered him, Trump answered: "I mean, everyone plays their games. It doesn't bother me."

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said during a press conference Thursday that Green-Timmons was just Trump's latest target.

“His latest target is a pastor in Flint, Mich., who respectfully asked him not to use her pulpit for political attacks," she said. "Rev. Faith Green-Timmons is ... a rock for her community in trying times. She deserves better than that."

U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, a Democrat from Flint, said of Trump's comments: "It was in her city, in her church, at her podium, and he was invited there. The fact that he would question her intentions is beyond unacceptable."

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During the interview, Trump said the congregation was very receptive to his speech.

"I'll tell you what made me feel good, the audience was saying, 'Let him speak, let him speak,' " Trump said. "And the audience was so great, and these are mostly African-American people, phenomenal people, and they want to see change."

Green-Timmons spoke to the news media after the event, explaining why she interrupted him. "I thought he wanted to see that we gave out food and water, and when his statement went beyond what he originally said, I asked him to stick to what he was originally going to say.

"He’s welcome to come and see what we’re doing in Flint. We’re doing well. We’re helping those in need. And I wanted him to see the best of Flint.

“And some of the statements I’ve heard him say about African Americans and Hispanics have been degrading,” Green-Timmons added.

Trump talked about Flint in the Fox interview.

"The crime rate over there is ridiculous. ... What they did with the water is horrible, but the crime rate and all the other problems they have. I use the expression, 'What do you have to lose?' I'm going to fix it! I'm going to fix it."

He offered no specific plans on how to make the transition from bottled to safe drinking water, or to bring back jobs.