Bismarck, n.d.
Trump said in a news conference that he would debate Sanders only if $10 million to $15 million went to a charity, perhaps one specializing in “women’s health issues.” It’s assumed that the bulk of that money would have to come from a television network. No network immediately stepped forward to claim interest on Thursday.
The real estate mogul — who formally clinched the Republican nomination on Thursday, according to an Associated Press tally of delegates — also continued his habit of wading into the Democratic primary contest by suggesting that front-runner Hillary Clinton had an unfair advantage over Sanders.
“We could have a lot of fun with it,” Trump said. “I would love to debate Bernie, actually. I mean the problem with debating Bernie is he’s going to lose (the nomination) because, honestly, his system is rigged just like our system is rigged.”
At an afternoon rally in Ventura, Calif., Sanders said he would “look forward” to challenging Trump on issues ranging from climate change to the Republican’s insults of Latinos, Muslims and women.
“I think we’re going to have to rent out the largest stadium you have here in California,” Sanders said of a theoretical debate. “I can’t wait for that, because we’re going to ask Mr. Trump why he thinks giving hundreds of billions of dollars in tax breaks to the wealthiest people in this country is a good idea.”
In an interview with ABC News, Clinton said she had taken the whole suggestion — first made by Sanders earlier in the week — as a joke. The former secretary of state said she is looking ahead to her own debates with Trump in the fall.
“I am very much anxious to be on the debate stage with him, to draw out the contrast, to make the points about his background, his dangerous and divisive rhetoric and policy suggestions,” she said.
This is not the first time that Trump has offered to debate for cash, and he has flirted with the idea of charging television networks for his participation. Trump said that an unusual match-up with Sanders would garner large ratings for the television network that hosts it, so that up to $15 million “would be a very appropriate amount.”
In late December, Trump skipped a debate in Des Moines, Iowa, organized by Fox News because he felt the network had treated him unfairly and because Megyn Kelly would be one of the moderators. Instead, Trump hosted a competing rally nearby and collected money for veterans groups.
Trump’s remarks came at a wide-ranging news conference here in North Dakota, where he also delivered a speech to a petroleum industry group on energy policy.
He took shots at a variety of foes, including Clinton, President Obama and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, who has sharply criticized Trump as a “lousy businessman” and “money-grubber” attempting to pose as a populist.
Trump fired back with a trademark insult, calling Warren “Pocahontas” — a reference to controversy over her claim of partial Native American heritage — who has “a big mouth.”