Fireworks Fly in First Moments of Debate as Trump Launches Unprovoked Attack on Paul: ‘Shouldn’t Even Be on This Stage’

Donald Trump wasted no time going after rival Rand Paul at Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate, arguing that the Kentucky senator shouldn’t even be on the stage.

Trump was asked to respond to an answer from Carly Fiorina on his temperament when he went on a tangent against Paul.

"First of all, Rand Paul shouldn't even be on this stage. He's number 11, he's got one-percent in the polls, and how he got up here — there's far too many people — anyways, as far as temperament, I think I have a great temperament," Trump said.

Paul hit back, contending that Trump's unprovoked attack on him demonstrated that he didn't have the temperament to have his finger on the nuclear button. Paul said that America doesn't need a commander-in-chief who hurls insults at others for their physical appearance and tosses other "middle school" attacks.

Trump had the last word, saying that he has never attacked Paul for his physical appearance, but joked that there is "plenty of subject matter."

The real estate tycoon and Paul have been at odds for weeks now. Paul has called Trump a "fake conservative" and vowed the day before the CNN debate to go after Trump with everything he has. "I think he deserves both barrels," Paul told The Daily Caller.

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