Donald Trump in CNN-Telemundo debate in Texas





On Abortion: Millions are helped by Planned Parenthood, but defund it

TRUMP: As far as Planned Parenthood is concerned, I'm pro-life. I'm totally against abortion, having to do with Planned Parenthood. But millions and millions of women -- cervical cancer, breast cancer -- are helped by Planned Parenthood. So you can say whatever you want, but they have millions of women going through Planned Parenthood that are helped greatly. And I wouldn't fund it. I would defund it because of the abortion factor, which they say is 3 percent. I don't know what percentage it is. They say it's 3%. But I would defund it, because I'm pro-life. But millions of women are helped by Planned Parenthood.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Foreign Policy: Don't take sides with Israel, so we can lead negotiations

TRUMP: President Obama has treated Israel horribly. I have very close ties to Israel. I've received the Tree of Life Award and many of the greatest awards given by Israel. As president, however, there's nothing that I would rather do to bring peace to Israel and its neighbors generally. And I think it serves no purpose to say that you have a good guy and a bad guy. Now, I may not be successful in doing it. It's probably the toughest negotiation anywhere in the world of any kind. But it doesn't help if I start saying, "I am very pro-Israel." It doesn't do any good to start demeaning the neighbors, because I would love to do something with regard to negotiating peace, finally, for Israel and for their neighbors.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Foreign Policy: I could negotiate a deal with Israel and Palestinians

TRUMP: A deal is a deal. Let me tell you that. I learned a long time ago.

RUBIO: A deal is not a deal when you're dealing with terrorists. Have you ever negotiated with terrorists?

TRUMP: I'm a negotiator. I've done very well over the years through negotiation. It's very important that we do that. In all fairness, Marco is not a negotiator. I watched him melt down and I'll tell you, it was one of the saddest things I've ever seen. You will never bring peace.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Free Trade: With a $58 billion trade deficit, Mexico will pay for wall

TRUMP: We have a trade deficit with Mexico of $58 billion a year. We're going to make them pay for that wall. The wall is $10 billion to $12 billion. I don't mind trade wars when we're losing $58 billion a year. Mexico is taking our businesses. They de-value their currencies to such an extent that our businesses cannot compete with them, our workers lose their jobs. You wouldn't know anything about it because you're a lousy businessman.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Health Care: Keep pre-existing condition coverage; not individual mandate

RUBIO: The individual mandate. He said he likes the individual mandate portion of it; I don't believe that should remain there. We need to repeal ObamaCare completely and replace it with a system that puts Americans in charge of their health care money again.

TRUMP: I agree with that 100%, except pre-existing conditions, I would absolutely get rid of ObamaCare. I want to keep pre- existing conditions. It's a modern age, and I think we have to have it.

Q: The insurance companies say is that the only way that they can cover people with pre-existing conditions is to have a mandate requiring everybody purchase health insurance. Are they wrong?

TRUMP: I think they're wrong 100%. Look, the insurance companies take care of the politicians [and vice-versa]. The insurance companies are making an absolute fortune. Yes, they will keep preexisting conditions, and that would be a great thing.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Health Care: Removing cross-state barriers solves many insurance issues

RUBIO: Here's what you didn't hear in that answer. What is your plan? I understand the lines around the state, whatever that means. This is not a game where you draw maps. What is your plan, Mr. Trump?

TRUMP: You get rid of the lines, it brings in competition. So, instead of having one insurance company taking care of New York, or Texas, you'll have many. They'll compete, and it'll be a beautiful thing.

RUBIO: So, that's the only part of the plan? Just the lines?

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Health Care: Chief Justice Roberts: a disaster who gave us ObamaCare

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Homeland Security: Charge rich countries like Germany more to defend them

TRUMP: We can no longer defend all of these countries, Japan, Germany, South Korea. You order televisions, you order almost anything, you're getting it from these countries. They are making a fortune. We defend all of these countries for peanuts. You talk about budgets. We have to start getting reimbursed for taking care of the military services for all of these countries.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Immigration: Let the good ones come back in; that's not amnesty

TRUMP: We have at least 11 million people that came in illegally. They will go out. Some will come back, the best, through a process. They have to come back legally. It may not be a quick process, but I think that's fair. They're going to get in line with other people.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Jobs: I'm the only one on this stage who's hired people

TRUMP: As far as the people I've hired in Florida during the prime season, you could not get help. People didn't want to have part-time jobs. There were part-time jobs, very seasonal, 90-day jobs, 120-day jobs. I'm the only one on the stage that's hired people. You haven't hired anybody.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On Principles & Values: Make America great again

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On War & Peace: We would be better off if Gadhafi were in charge right now

TRUMP: I was in favor of Libya? I never discussed that subject. We would be so much better off if Gadhafi were in charge right now. If these politicians went to the beach and didn't do a thing, and we had Saddam Hussein and if we had Gadhafi in charge, instead of having terrorism all over the place, at least they killed terrorists, all right? And I'm not saying they were good--because they were bad, they were really bad--but we don't know what we're getting. You look at Libya right now, ISIS, as we speak, is taking over their oil. As we speak, it's a total mess. We would have been better off if the politicians took a day off instead of going into war.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

On War & Peace: Cease-fire in Syria only if all parties involved

CRUZ: We're hopeful that the violence will cease, but there's reason to be highly skeptical. Russia has enhanced its position because of Obama's weakness in the Middle East, weakness in Syria.

TRUMP: I don't because it not working and the countries aren't agreeing to it and the rebels aren't agreeing and Syria is not agreeing. It's a meaningless ceasefire. I would love it, but all parties have to be part of it.

Source: 2016 CNN-Telemundo Republican debate on eve of Texas primary Feb 25, 2016

Page last updated: Dec 09, 2018