Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was furious with a focus group that Fox News put on air Thursday night just after the GOP presidential debate — and he accused the channel of using it to try to bring him down.
The group, brought together by pollster Frank Luntz, featured some unhappy voters who said their feelings on the GOP businessman changed after hearing his comments during the debate.
Luntz asked the group’s participants to give their opinions on how they felt about Trump before and after the debate.
Most participants, even though many supported him before Thursday night’s event, had negative feelings toward Trump afterward.
Trump was described as a letdown, “mean,” and “bombastic.”
Here’s video of the focus group for Fox’s “The Kelly File”:
Trump was quick to respond to Luntz’s focus group on Twitter Thursday night.
.@FrankLuntz, your so-called “focus groups” are a total joke. Don’t come to my office looking for business again. You are a clown!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
.@FrankLuntz I won every poll of the debate tonight by massive margins @DRUDGE_REPORT & @TIME so where did you find that dumb panel.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
.@FrankLuntz is a low class slob who came to my office looking for consulting work and I had zero interest. Now he picks anti-Trump panels!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 7, 2015
Staffers for Trump got in on the debate, too, denouncing the focus group on Twitter.
A total setup by @FrankLuntz and #FOXNEWSDEBATE to try to lower #Trump2016 high poll numbers. American people will not fall for your tricks.
— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) August 7, 2015
Trump took time to discredit the focus group during his phone interview on the “Today Show” Friday morning.
“That was done by a guy named Frank Luntz who is a real dunce frankly,” he told “Today” hosts. “I don’t know where he finds the people, but I think he picks them — I think he hand picks them to say whatever they want — because it didn’t jive with anything. I mean he’s got his own little agenda.”
Trump even accused Luntz of possibly having some kind of personal gripe with him.
“He came up to my office looking for a job looking for work and then all of a sudden he’s doing focus,” Trump said. “I had no interest in him. So you know, I don’t believe in that focus group.”
Watch Trump’s exchange on the morning talk show:
