Republican presidential candidate
Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to criticise the three moderators of
Thursday night's debate - in particular Fox News host Megyn Kelly.
He tweeted
that Ms Kelly and the other moderators were "not very good or
professional", and retweeted similar viewpoints from other Twitter
users.
Ms Kelly had challenged the tycoon about his views on women.
Mr Trump was one of 10 candidates who took part in the first debate.
They had been selected from a crowded field of 17 candidates by Fox News on the basis of recent national polls. How the debate unfolded on Twitter Top Trump quotes from debate Debate's winners and losers
Mr
Trump stumbled on his past support for a national healthcare system but
his most uncomfortable moment came when Ms Kelly challenged him on his
views about women.
"You've called women you don't like fat pigs, dogs, slobs and disgusting animals," she said.
He
answered by joking that he only said that about actress Rosie O'Donnell
and stating that political correctness was one of the country's biggest
problems.
"I don't have time for total political correctness," he said.
In the hours after the debate, he took to Twitter to criticise the moderators.
Fox News host Megyn Kelly was a moderator along with Chris Wallace (left) and Brett Baier (right)
And
he also took aim at Republican pollster Frank Luntz, whose focus group
in a live broadcast after the debate gave an overwhelming thumbs-down to
Mr Trump's performance. It
was when Mr Trump said, during the debate, that he would not rule out
running as an independent that the audience and other candidates became
hostile. An enraged Rand Paul said: "He buys and sells politicians of
all stripes."
One of the loudest rounds of applause of the evening
was for Florida senator Marco Rubio when he mocked Hillary Clinton, who
leads the Democratic field.
"First let me say, I think God has
blessed us. He's blessed the Republican Party with some very good
candidates. The Democrats can't even find one."
Analysis - Jon Sopel, BBC News, Cleveland
The
received wisdom of political strategists was that last night was the
opportunity for Donald Trump to look presidential - but the secret of
his success is to look like, well, Donald Trump. There are many things
that make him stand out from the rest of the Republican field but surely
the most striking is that he is already a brand in his own right.
What's
propelled him to the front of the Republican field is that he isn't
just another politician. He taps brilliantly into America's
disillusionment and anger with conventional Washington politics. He's
made billions from building hotels, golf courses and casinos, so doesn't
need to go cap in hand to get funding. He has instant name recognition
across America as well through presenting the US version of the
Apprentice, and he is a one man self publicity machine.
All of
which leaves Republican establishment with a problem. If they do say
you're fired, well then there's every possibility that Trump would run
as an independent, draining support away from the conservative cause.
Politics with him around could never be described as dull. But it is
unpredictable. And you sense that all the Republican leadership want at
the moment is a bit of certainty...even if that means doing without the
undoubted charisma of Mr Trump. Five reasons Trump still tops polls Meet all the 2016 hopefuls
On Thursday, the Democratic Party announced it would hold its first debate in Nevada in October, hosted by CNN.
By
next summer, each party will have a presidential nominee who will do
battle in the race for the White House. Votes will finally be cast in
November 2016.
The Republican field is one of the largest in recent years.
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