--- description: Trump and nine rivals are set to meet Thursday evening title: Donald Trump Takes Center Stage but Gives No Ground in Republican Debate image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blta164540f90aa3558/69885e5ccd1bba539d6fca19/trump-debate-republican.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Politics](/section/politics/) ## Politics Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Debates](/tag/debates/) ## Debates Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Donald Trump Takes Center Stage but Gives No Ground in GOP Debate ## Video: 2016 Republican Presidential Debate: Best Megyn Kelly Questions [Watch (HLS stream): 2016 Republican Presidential Debate: Best Megyn Kelly Questions](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/cKmCFeoI.m3u8) (1:19)  _Published 2015-08-07. Best Megyn Kelly Questions_  by [Philip Elliott](/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 2:49 AM CUTPublished: Aug 6, 2015 11:36 PM CUT  Republican presidential candidates (L-R) Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Carson, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Donald Trump and Jeb Bush take the stage for the first prime-time presidential debate hosted by FOX News and Facebook at the Quicken Loans Arena on Aug. 6, 2015 in Cleveland. Republican presidential candidates (L-R) Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), Ben Carson, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Donald Trump and Jeb Bush take the stage for the first prime-time presidential debate hosted by FOX News and Facebook at the Quicken Loans Arena on Aug. 6, 2015 in Cleveland.Scott Olson—Getty Images  by [Philip Elliott](/author/philip-elliott/)  ## Philip Elliott Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Senior Correspondent Updated: Dec 13, 2023 2:49 AM CUTPublished: Aug 6, 2015 11:36 PM CUT So much for the idea that Donald Trump would try to act like a typical presidential candidate. No, when The Donald met his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination during their first debate Thursday, it was all bluster and bravado—although the bullying seemed to be kept in check. The fiery real estate mogul unleashed his signature enthusiasm during the debate’s first minutes. He refused to support the eventual GOP nominee, even as he was standing in the arena where he or she should be crowned next summer. He threaten to stop being “nice” to a female Fox News moderator who asked him about sexist remarks. He said “the stupid leaders of the United States” are to blame for immigrants in the country illegally. He said “dishonest” reporters were to blame for taking his comments about immigrants out of context, although he did not dispute any of the videos or transcripts noting he did, in fact, describe Mexicans in the country illegally as rapists and drug dealers. “If it weren’t for me you wouldn’t be talking about illegal immigration,” Trump boasted. It was The Trump Show. His nine rivals were merely bit players. While Trump boasted about his business empire, his opponents were offering thoughtful answers and policy prescriptions. Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush each delivered solid performances, yet were eclipsed by Trump. “They say we’re outspoken?” Ohio Gov. John Kasich said, laughing that he and Christie are often branded as tough-talking bullies. “Donald Trump is hitting a nerve in this country.” But Trump was not hitting his rivals. No, his targets were more broadly Washington lawmakers. Aside from asides and snark, it does not seem that Trump came to the debate armed with research to lay into the rivals on stage. When Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul tried to attack Trump for his former support for the principles of Obamacare, Trump brushed him off. “I don’t think you heard me. You’re having a hard time tonight,” Trump said. In disagreeing with Bush on the question of immigration, Trump was more gentle than even Bush’s advisers could have hoped for. “We need, Jeb, to build a wall,” Trump said. The pair also tangled over Trump’s rhetoric and what it might mean for the eventual GOP nominee. “Mr. Trump’s language is divisive. I want to win,” Bush said. Trump’s approach, he said, was not a recipe for success. Trump countered in signature tough-guy talk: “We don’t have time for tone. We have to go out and get the job done.” At other times, Trump went after the moderators who dared question previous statements, including calling some women “fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals.” Trump then threatened host Megyn Kelly. “Megyn, if you don’t like it, I’m sorry. I’ve been very nice to you, although I could probably maybe not be, based on the way you have treated me. But I wouldn’t do that,” Trump said, before saying he was “kidding.” “I think the big problem this country has is being politically correct,” he said to applause. “I’ve been challenged by so many people, and I don’t frankly have time for total political correctness. And to be honest with you, this country doesn’t have time either.” Asked by another moderator, for evidence that the Mexican government was sending immigrants into the country, Trump hemmed and hawed. “Border patrol people that I deal with,” he offered. Trying to get a word in edgewise, Trump’s rivals took issue with how he was describing the challenge of illegal immigration. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas said immigrants here illegally came because the Obama Administration was giving orders to officials to ignore immigration laws. “It’s a not a question of stupidity. It’s that they don’t want to enforce the immigration laws,” Cruz said. Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a 2008 contender, had his signature one-liners ready. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Ohio Gov. John Walker weathered their first nationally televised debate without poking Trump. Retired soft-spoken surgeon Ben Carson was a relative non-factor. Trump roared into the presidential race with a theatrical speech that immediately put him on his heels. He called immigrants in the country illegally rapists; business partners ran away from Trump and dropped contracts with him. Trump refused to apologize. His poll numbers skyrocketed. The participants in the Fox News Channel debate were chose by an average of five recent national polls: The 10 best finishers got primetime billing. The other seven met during drive-time in what was billed as[ a Happy Hour Debate](http://time.com/3987912/fox-republican-debate-undercard/ "undefined") that was far from celebratory. The consensus was that former tech executive Carly Fiorina bested her rivals in that exchange. Those polls, however, are certain to change. At this point, many of the results are driven largely by name recognition, and on that Trump dominates. The question is if voters, who are just tuning in, continue to tell pollsters they like Trump between now and Election Day 2016—a distant 459 days away. ### See the 2016 Candidates Looking Very Presidential  Sen. Ted Cruz is surrounded by stars and stripes at the 2014 Values Voter Summit in Washington, D.C. on September 26, 2014. Mark Peterson—Redux  Hillary Clinton Hillary Clinton gazes pensively into the distance at Iowa Senator Tom Harken'a annual Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa on September 14, 2014. Brooks Kraft—Corbis for TIME  Jeb Bush Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush flashes a power watch before giving his keynote address at the National Summit on Education Reform in Washington on Nov. 20, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Bernie Sanders waves to supporters after officially announcing his candidacy for the U.S. presidency during an event at Waterfront Park in Burlington, Vermont, on May 26, 2015. Win McNamee—Getty Images  Chris Christie New Jersey Governor Chris Christie strikes a presidential power stance at the ceremony for the opening of the 206 bypass in Hillsborough, New Jersey on October 28, 2013. Mark Peterson—Redux  Former Hewlett-Packard Co Chief Executive Officer Carly Fiorina listens to her introduction from the side of the stage at the Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 24, 2015. Jim Young—Reuters  Rand Paul Sen. Rand Paul works a crowd during a campaign stop on October 24, 2014 in McDonough, Georgia. Jessica McGowan—Getty Images  Rick Perry Texas Gov. Rick Perry looks powerfully patriotic during the National Anthem before an NCAA college football game on Nov. 27, 2014, in College Station, Texas. David J. Phillip—AP  Bobby Jindal Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal looks to the future during The Family Leadership Summit on Aug. 9, 2014, in Ames, Iowa. Charlie Neibergall—AP  Martin O'Malley Maryland Governor Martin OíMalley ponders decorating ideas in front of his possible future home on CBS's Face the Nation on Feb. 23, 2014. Chris Usher—AP  Marco Rubio Sen. Marco Rubio looks determined the morning after the State of the Union address in Washington, D.C. on January 29, 2014. Melissa Golden—Redux  Ben CarsonBen Carson at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference on March 8, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Jim Webb Retiring Sen. Jim Webb imitates the presidential wave during a rally in Virginia Beach, Va. on Sept. 27, 2012. Steve Helber—AP  John Kasich Ohio Gov. John Kasich practices his presidential victory pose at the Ohio Republican Party celebration on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014, in Columbus, Ohio. Tony Dejak—AP  Rick Santorum Former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum looks resolute at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference on March 7, 2014. Brooks Kraft—Corbis  Scott Walker Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker practices the presidential point on March 3, 2014 in Milwaukee. Jeffrey Phelps—AP  Mike Huckabee Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee fine-tunes his presidential oratory at the Conservative Political Action Committee annual conference in National Harbor, Md. on March 7, 2014. Susan Walsh—AP  Lincoln Chafee, Former Rhode Island Governor, poses for a selfie with a student after announcing he will seek the Democratic nomination for president in Arlington, Va. on June 3, 2015. Jonathan Ernst—Reuters  Lindsey Graham Lindsey Graham announced his plans to join the 2016 presidential race. Alex Wong—Getty Images  George Pataki Former New York governor George Pataki listens to a question at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Conference in Nashua, New Hampshire, in this April 17, 2015 file photo. 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