CLEVELAND -- Billionaire real estate mogul and Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is making no apologies for his past crude comments about women.

At the first GOP presidential debate, Fox News host Megyn Kelly sharply questioned how Trump has described women in the past, criticizing their bodies and making sexually suggestive statements on his television show.

Trump tried to joke initially, saying the statements were only about liberal actor Rosie O'Donnell, with whom he's exchanged insults in the past. But when pressed by Kelly, he said testily that he didn't have time for "total political correctness."

Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell AP / CBS

Staying combative, he said that if Kelly didn't like it, "I'm sorry." He added that he's always said nice things about her, but he threatened to be less kind to her in retaliation.

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"I've been challenged by so many people and I don't frankly have time for total political correctness," he said. "This country is in big trouble. We don't win anymore."

A short time later, O'Donnell responded on Twitter, "Try explaining that 2 ur kids."

try explaining that 2 ur kids — Rosie (@Rosie) August 7, 2015

O'Donnell and Trump have a rocky history. Back in 2011, the pair launched a Twitter feud, sparked by Trump's comments about O'Donnell's engagement to partner Michelle Rounds.

@realDonaldTrump - wow u r an ass http://t.co/aL3WQ0cL in every way - — Rosie (@Rosie) December 14, 2011

However, after O'Donnell suffered a heart attack in 2012, Trump sent get well wishes.