Trump on Romney seeking his endorsement: 'I could have said, Mitt, drop to your knees'

Trump responds to Romney speech.
(Image credit: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Donald Trump spoke from Portland, Maine, on Thursday shortly after being attacked by Mitt Romney, who called him "a phony, a fraud." The speech started out slow, with Trump joking, "Can I buy some [land] please, can I buy some?" after complimenting the state of Maine on being large. He then hit on a number of his regular talking points before making his way around to address Romney's comments.

"I heard that Mitt Romney made a fairly long speech," Trump began, adding that he'd only watched parts of the speech and had contemplated not spending much time addressing it. But, being Trump, he went on to say, "Mitt is a failed candidate. He failed horribly. That was a race that absolutely should have been won."

Trump then bragged about Romney seeking his endorsement in 2012. "He was desperate for my endorsement...I could have said, 'Mitt, drop to your knees,' and he would have dropped to his knees," Trump said. "He was begging me."

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Then Trump returned to his regular line of insults. "I made so much more money than Mitt. I have a store that's worth more money than Mitt," Trump said. Watch below. Jeva Lange

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.