Trump Leaves Open Possibility of Running as an Independent

STEPHANOPOULOS: But — but finally, you know, that (INAUDIBLE) — that super PAC is not alone. The front page story in the “Wall Street Journal” yesterday talks about GOP operatives planning to launch a guerrilla campaign against Trump. They’re saying the Republican establishment is increasingly alarmed by your enduring strength and that they’re — they’re going to have the first attempt to unite donors from rival camps into a single anti-Trump force.

If that begins to happen, are you going to reconsider an Independent run, if they come after you to try to take you out?

TRUMP: Well, we’ll see what happens. It will be very interesting. But I’m leading every poll by a lot. It’s not even a little bit anymore, it’s a lot. And that’s — I resonate with the people.

I had 10,000 people yesterday. Every place I go, if I have a crowd smaller than 10,000, it’s like a small crowd for me. Nobody else can get 200,000. I mean Jeb Bush and these guys, Kasich goes out, he speaks, if he gets 20 people in ma room, it’s a lot of people. Nobody else gets anybody and I get crowds. And you know it, you cover it.

I get crowds of 6,000, 10,000, 20,000. I had a 35,000 crowd...

STEPHANOPOULOS: But you’re open...

TRUMP: — in Alabama...

STEPHANOPOULOS: — to an Independent run?

TRUMP: Well, I’m going to have to see what happens. I will see what happens. I have to be treated fairly. You know, when I did this, I said I have to be treated fairly. If I’m treated fairly, I’m fine. All I want to do is a level playing field. And I think people are surprised that, you know, they’re politicians and they’ve been doing this stuff all their lives. I haven’t. I’ve been a job producer. I’ve done great, you know, things. I’ve done fabulous developments all over the world and I’ve made a lot of money. And that’s the kind of thinking we need in office. That’s the kind of thinking we need in Washington.

And that’s why people are resonating with me. And, you know, they know there’s a great level of competence. We have a great level of incompetent right now in Washington. And frankly, we have a lot of incompetent politicians running for office. And they can’t understand, you know, how come an outsider can be doing so well within the party.

I used to be, George, the fair-haired boy. You know, when I was a contributor. I know more about contributions than anybody. I contributed at the top of the line. But now, all of a sudden, I’m somebody that’s a little bit — you know, they’re a little bit — I guess they cant understand what’s happening.

But what’s happening is very simple. People want competence now. They’re tired of incompetent people. It’s as simple as that.

STEPHANOPOULOS: Mr. Trump, thanks for your time this morning.

TRUMP: Thank you very much.