GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Saturday labeled the moderator of Wednesday’s much-maligned CNBC Republican presidential debate a “dope” and a “fool.”
“By the way — this guy John Harwood, was he a dope?” Trump asked in the middle of comments about the debates.
{mosads}Harwood’s name was met with boos from the crowd in Norfolk, Va., as Trump continued slamming him.
“What a dope. What a fool,” he said.
“And look what it cost NBC. It hurt their reputation. It’s a shame, actually. But he was really a jerk.”
But Trump also said he liked the debates because it gave candidates a chance to show they could take hard questions.
“I don’t want the Republicans to look weak, like we’re afraid to take questions,” he said.
CNBC’s primary debate was criticized by many on the right, who thought the questions asked of the candidates were inappropriate.
The Republican National Committee on Friday suspended its partnership with NBC News for a debate in February because of the concerns.
Trump’s discussion of the debate was an aside during a speech where he laid out his plan to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Speaking in front of the USS Wisconsin, he pledged: “The plan will ensure our veterans get the care they need, wherever and whenever they need it.”