Donald Trump kept himself in the headlines Tuesday, first by reigniting his feud with Fox News host Megyn Kelly, then by kicking Univision anchor Jorge Ramos, one of the leading Spanish-language journalists in the country, out of a press conference.
Eventually, Ramos was allowed back in and the two sparred over Trump's immigration plans.
The day started where it left off Monday.
Kelly returned Monday night from her vacation, and Trump immediately took a swipe at her on Twitter.
It marked the end of peace recently recently brokered with Kelly's network, Fox News Channel.
"Donald Trump's surprise and unprovoked attack on Megyn Kelly during her show last night is as unacceptable as it is disturbing. Megyn Kelly represents the very best of American journalism and all of us at Fox News Channel reject the crude and irresponsible attempts to suggest otherwise," said Roger Ailes, chairman and chief executive of Fox News, in a statement released Tuesday.
"I could not be more proud of Megyn for her professionalism and class in the face of all of Mr. Trump's verbal assaults. Her questioning of Mr. Trump at the debate was tough but fair, and I fully support her as she continues to ask the probing and challenging questions that all presidential candidates may find difficult to answer.
"Donald Trump rarely apologizes, although in this case, he should. We have never been deterred by politicians or anyone else attacking us for doing our job, much less allowed ourselves to be bullied by anyone and we're certainly not going to start now. All of our journalists will continue to report in the fair and balanced way that has made Fox News Channel the number one news network in the industry."
In a statement to Newsmax, Trump responded: "I totally disagree with the Fox statement.
"I do not think Megyn Kelly is a quality journalist," he said. "I think her questioning of me, despite all of the polls saying I won the debate, was very unfair.
"Hopefully in the future, I will be proven wrong and she will be able to elevate her standards to a level of professionalism that a network such as Fox deserves.
"More importantly, I am very pleased to see the latest polls from Public Policy Polling showing me at a strong number one with 35 percent in New Hampshire, the Monmouth University poll showing me, again at number one, with 30 percent in South Carolina and the latest national poll from Gravis, where I am again the clear front runner with 40 percent, " Trump continued. "It was also just announced that I won the prestigious corn kernel poll at the Iowa State Fair by a landslide."
Trump also noted that he would be speaking Tuesday night in Iowa, "with my speech being broadcast live on CNN and other networks.
"My sole focus in running for the presidency is to make America great again!"
The two sides had been at odds in the wake of Fox News' broadcast of an Aug. 6 debate among Republican candidates for U.S. President.
During the debate, Megyn Kelly asked Trump if some of the remarks he has made about women in the past might dampen his appeal. Afterwards, Trump made no secret of his dissatisfaction with the line of questioning, proceeding to make some remarks about Kelly that many found offensive.
But Ailes and Trump came to a truce, Kelly went on a vacation and the matter seemed largely resolved. Trump's remarks today suggest that is no longer the case.
The war of words takes place as Rupert Murdoch, who oversees 21st Century Fox, the parent company of Fox News,
recently took to Twitter to suggest Michael Bloomberg, the former Mayor of New York and another billionaire, run for president.
At least 10 fellow Fox News hosts have fired back on social media, including Bret Baier, who co-moderated the first GOP debate with Kelly and Chris Wallace.
Geraldo Rivera also jumped to Kelly’s defense, tweeting:
Mediaite published all 10 of Kelly's Fox News colleagues' Twitter postings, including one from left-leaning Kirsten Powers telling Trump to "Please shut up."
"Fox & Friends" co-host Brian Kilmeade called Trump's attacks "unwarranted":
Kelly, for her part, vowed in a broadcast August 10 that she would not respond to Trump's attacks and would "continue doing my job without fear or favor."
At a press conference in Iowa Tuesday night, Trump defended his tweets.
"Because when people treat me unfairly, I don't let them forget," he said. "I thought her questioning and her attitude was totally inappropriate."
He said more people on the Internet were on his side, but that he really wasn't that concerned with Kelly.
"It is a very small element in my life, Megyn Kelly," he said. "I don't care about Megyn Kelly. No, I would not apologize. She should probably apologize to me but I just don't care."
He expressed respect for Ailes, but said Fox covers him "terribly" despite his double-digit lead in the polls.
Trump contends that Kelly's questioning to him was out of line, while other candidates in the debate were asked about their jobs plan or whether they loved God.
But that wasn't the most memorable part of Trump's press conference. That honor was reserved for the forcible removal of Univision anchor Ramos.
As Trump called on another reporter in the room, Ramos began shouting out his own question at Trump, who told Ramos to "sit down" because he wasn't called on.
Ramos began protesting that he had the right to ask a question, but Trump shot back, "No, you don't. You haven't been called."
"Go back to Univision," Trump said as Ramos continued his protestations.
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Finally, a security person forcibly pushed Ramos out the door as he continued shouting, "I have the right to ask questions."
After answering other questions, two reporters asked Trump why Ramos was removed.
"You're running for president, and one of our country's top journalists, an anchor of Univision, was just escorted out of the news conference. Do you think you handled that situation correctly?" one asked.
Trump said he would be happy to answer Ramos' questions, but he didn't wait until he was called on and instead "started screaming."
"He stands up and starts screaming so, you know, maybe he's at fault, also," Trump said, calling Ramos "a very emotional person."
"I don't mind if he doesn't come back, frankly," Trump said.
A few minutes later, Ramos did just that.
What ensued was a lengthy back-and-forth between the two over Trump's plan to deport all illegal immigrants then allowing the "good ones" back in.
Ramos was on CNN on Monday, saying Trump was the "loudest voice of hatred, intolerance, and division," in the Republican Party and accused him of "spreading hate" by saying Mexican illegal immigrants were committing crimes in the United States.
Ramos also slammed Trump for using the term "anchor babies" to describe the children of illegal immigrants born on U.S. soil, thereby granting them citizenship.
"No human being is illegal," Ramos said. "Isn't that spreading hate?"
Ramos told Trump on Tuesday he will never be able to deport every illegal immigrant or build a border wall across the Mexican-U.S. border.
Ramos continued interrupting Trump as he tried to answer.
"I can't deal with with this," Trump said, but then continued with his answer, saying he is a good manager, who will hire the right people to get the job done.
"This is the part you are going to like," Trump assured Ramos: "I want these people, good people, I want them to come back. And I want them to get documentation so they become legal."
Trump turned to other reporters, but Ramos jumped in once more before the press conference was over.
Trump reminded Ramos he is suing his network for $500 million over its dropping his Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants.
"And they are very concerned about it, I have to tell you," Trump said. "I'm very good at this stuff."
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