Amid growing concern among Republican Party leaders about his presidential candidacy, Donald Trump vowed Thursday to wage a hard-charging and lengthy campaign, including filing his financial disclosures with the Federal Election Commission as early as next week.
In a wide-ranging, 30-minute interview with The Washington Post, the billionaire real estate mogul and reality television star said he has serious concerns about other Republican candidates and refused to commit to supporting the eventual nominee in the general election.
“So many people want me to run as an independent — so many people,” Trump said. “I have been asked by — you have no idea, everybody wants me to do it.
“I think the best chance of defeating the Democrats and to make America great again is to win as a Republican because I don’t want to be splitting up votes.”
Pressed about whether he would back the Republican ticket if he fails to win the nomination himself, Trump left the door open for a third-party bid of his own. “I would have to see who the nominee is,” he said.
Trump’s comments came in a call to The Post to dispute some of the details reported Wednesday night about his phone call with Reince Priebus, chairman of the Republican National Committee.
Trump said the call from Priebus “was meant, in my opinion, to be a congratulatory call. … It wasn’t a lecturing-type call. He’s going to lecture me? Give me a break.”
Priebus’ decision to reach out to Trump came after days of talks with Republican leaders about how best to manage Trump’s outsize presence on the airwaves. Donors familiar with the exchange told The Post about the call Wednesday and about Priebus’ request for a softer pitch on immigration.
Fox News Channel is requiring that candidates file their financial disclosures with the FEC to qualify for the first debate, scheduled for Aug. 6 in Cleveland.
Asked whether he plans to meet that requirement, Trump said, “Of course I am.” He said he is entitled to two 45-day extensions with the FEC, but he will not use them and plans to submit his paperwork in coming days, perhaps next week.
Trump said he is not concerned about the alarm in GOP quarters about his candidacy — particularly the inflammatory tone about his remarks on immigration and Mexico.
“They don’t know me yet,” Trump said of GOP party elders. “When they know me, they will love me. That’s what happens, and I think I’m going to win. I’m getting the biggest crowds by far. “
Trump repeatedly noted his rise in the polls, nationally and in early caucus and primary states. “My life has not been losing, you understand that,” Trump said. “They used to say, ‘clown.’ I’m not a person that loses. I don’t lose.”
Trump renewed his attacks on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton, saying “she did a bad job as secretary of state.” He said she and her husband, former president Bill Clinton, once were friends, but “I haven’t spoken to Hillary in years.”
Asked to assess Bill Clinton’s presidency, Trump said, “He would’ve been a very good president had he not met Monica (Lewinsky) and the others.”
Trump said he is looking forward to the Republican primary debates, although he has not begun preparing for them. “I’m not a debater,” he said. “I don’t debate. I build buildings, and I grow jobs. These (other candidates) debate every (expletive) night of their life. That’s all they do. They talk.”
Trump suggested that Mitt Romney spent too much time preparing for debates as the 2012 Republican nominee.
“He became a frozen jellyfish,” Trump said. “He spent so much time in prep he couldn’t speak.”
