Trump fires back after GOP opponents take turns bashing him in Republican debate

Responding to Christie's 'Donald Duck' nickname for him, Trump said: 'Anybody that would come up with that nickname shouldn’t be running for president'

Former President Donald Trump, responding to heated criticisms from his primary opponents during the second GOP debate, said it was "much more important" for him to work to "save" autoworkers Wednesday night than to appear at the debate due to his massive lead in the primary polls, while dismissing Chris Christie’s "Donald Duck" nickname for him.

Trump did not attend the second Republican debate in Simi Valley, California—much to the dismay of his GOP primary opponents, who repeatedly brought him up, stressing that he should have been on the stage to defend the record of his administration.

THE GOP CANDIDATES GO HEAD-TO-HEAD AT THE SECOND REPUBLICAN DEBATE - SIGN UP NOW TO STREAM LIVE

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a fundraiser event for the Alabama GOP, Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, in Montgomery, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (AP Newsroom)

"I thought it was much more important, considering I have a 56-point lead, for me to be dealing with the UAW and the fact that the Biden Administration is going to destroy their jobs over the next two years by going all electric vehicle," Trump told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview Wednesday night.

CHRISTIE RIPS TRUMP FOR NOT SHOWING UP TO DEBATE, SUGGESTS NEW NICKNAME OF 'DONALD DUCK'

Trump spoke before a crowd of autoworkers in Clinton Township, Michigan Wednesday night, pleading that, if elected, the future of the automobile will be "Made in America." 

Second GOP presidential debate (Fox News / Getty Images)

"The crowd was incredible—unreal," he said. "I think we have great support to save the autoworker." 

During the debate, though, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie laid into Trump, looking directly into the camera and saying: 

"Donald, I know you’re watching. You can’t help yourself," Christie said. "You’re ducking these things. And let me tell you what’s going to happen. You keep doing that, no one here’s going to call you Donald Trump anymore." 

Christie added: "We’re going to call you Donald Duck."

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Donald Trump is 'missing in action': Ron DeSantis

GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis calls out former President Donald Trump for skipping the second primary debate. 

Trump told Fox News Digital he had not been watching, but dismissed the nickname.

"Anybody that would come up with that nickname shouldn’t be running for president," he told Fox News Digital.

DESANTIS CALLS OUT TRUMP DURING DEBATE FOR NOT ATTENDING, DEFENDING RECORD: 'MISSING IN ACTION'

The most recent Fox News poll shows 60% of Republican primary voters supporting Trump for the GOP nomination — that’s up from 53% in the last survey in August. 

The only other candidates to receive double-digit support in that poll are DeSantis at 13% and Ramaswamy at 11

Haley sits at 5%, with Pence and Scott at 3% each. Christie is polling at 2%, with the remaining GOP candidates receiving less than 1%.

And according to a new Washington Post/ABC poll from over the weekend, Trump is currently leading President Biden by 10 points in a head-to-head general election survey among voters. The poll said if the 2024 presidential election were held today, Trump would win 52% to 42% over Biden.

Meanwhile, Biden's approval rating sits at 37%, according to the poll, while 56% of respondents actively disapprove of his presidency.