Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman-turned-presidential candidate, jolted the first Republican debate of the 2016 campaign by warning he might run as an independent if denied the GOP nomination.
Shedding any pretense of civility and party unity, Donald Trump overwhelmed the first Republican presidential debate on Thursday night by ripping into his rivals and the moderators alike — but also drew fire from Jeb Bush and other candidates who are seeking to stop Trump’s surge.
Trump displayed his trademark pugnacity from the start with a bravura moment: refusing to rule out a third-party run for the presidency if he does not win the GOP nomination.