Politics

Donald Trump Debated Donald Trump on the Late Show

January 29th 2016

If there's one thing that's been consistent about Republican frontrunner Donald Trump's presidential campaign, it's inconsistency.

On Thursday night's "The Late Show," host Stephen Colbert poked fun at Trump's penchant to contradict himself, pitting the businessman against himself in a Donald vs. Trump debate that spanned a variety of topics — including fellow presidential contenders Ted Cruz and Hillary Clinton, Iowa voters, and embattled FOX News host Megyn Kelly.

Donald Trump vs. Donald Trump debate on "The Late Show"The Late Show/YouTube - youtube.com

The "debate" consisted of clips of the businessman speaking on opposing sides of each issue at various point throughout his presidential campaign and prior to it, reaching back into the well of Trump clips from years past.

Here are the highlights:

Trump on Cruz in earlier in January: "I don't think Ted Cruz has a great chance, ... He's a nasty guy. Nobody likes him. Nobody in Congress likes him. Nobody likes him anywhere once they get to know him."

And a month before: "I like Ted Cruz a lot."

donald-trump-ted-cruzAP/Matt Rourke - apimages.com

And the Donald v. Trump debate, of course, featured the businessman speaking about Megyn Kelly, the Fox News host whose moderation of Thursday night's GOP debate factored into his boycott.

megyn-kellyFox News

A clip from 2011 features Trump fawning over the host after she asks him if he could moderate better than her: "No, I could never beat you. That wouldn't even be close. There would be no contest. You have done a great job, by the way. I mean it."

Earlier this week, Trump had changed his mind: "I have zero respect for Megyn Kelly. I don't think she's really good at what she does. I think she's highly overrated."

Colbert's segment hones in on a key criticism of Trump's campaign: that the businessman's political platform appears to be shaped by whatever sentiment fits the bill at a given time. But it also highlighted something that has baffled observers: that no matter what Trump says, he consistently polls well above his GOP contenders.

Earlier this week, the candidate's flip floppery was the subject of attack ads in Iowa, which aired just days before the pivotal caucus vote there on Monday. The ads went after Trump for more than just changing his tune on insulting versus praising people, but flipping his stance on immigration.

Watch the Donald v. Trump debate here:

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