I have nothing to do with Q.

 

(But) I do have a problem with Q. I'm the guy who didn't really have to do anything, so I shouldn't even have been here. ... I haven't done anything," he said at first.

Asked if he believes the "bias" against him is an issue, he said, "No. ... What's more important for me? I really like being on TV, not listening to people who have a different opinion from me, but I'm just not going to let the media have a negative view."

His comments come as the Trump campaign has been rocked by controversy after it leaked a 2005 video in which the GOP presidential hopeful said, "Look at the things that were said about me by the New York Times. That's fake news. And I apologize to New York Times, I apologize to every reporter that has dared to write that story," he said in the video.

"For them to say you didn't do anything is just absolutely false," he continued, adding later that if "somebody were to write a story that said nothing is going on with me, I won't take the blame for what happened. I'm going to take the blame for what happened with her, and those are my words."

After receiving an outpouring of criticism from conservative Republican allies about their condemnation of Trump's comments over the weekend, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest told reporters on Tuesday that he agreed with the Republican presidential candidate's claim of having "no business" on the debate stage.

Earnest told reporters after Trump's interview with CNN anchor Chris Cuomo had concluded that the Republican candidate "talks directly to voters across America." He also reiterated the administration's point-by-point condemnation of Trump's remarks and suggested that the president's remarks on the video could be subject to a public apology from him if there are "any changes that he proposes."

Trump's remarks, however, could trigger a response of some kind, according to some former White House aides.

"I have worked in this White House for four years, and never have I seen the level of anger from President Trump and his surrogates or his supporters over the fact that, on a national stage, people who work for him are giving him such tremendous, heartfelt thanks for being able to do what he's doing," said Michael Caputo, a spokesman for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.). He added, "That seems to be a very serious problem."

Cap