Trump boots reporter, vows to hold grudges

DUBUQUE, Iowa — Once he feels slighted, Donald Trump said in Iowa Tuesday night, he holds a grudge.

"When people treat me unfairly, I don't let them forget it," Trump told reporters at a news conference before a campaign rally at the Grand River Center in Dubuque. Since the the billionaire reality TV star's last rally in Iowa in late July, he has climbed into first place in the GOP race here. And on Tuesday night, he predicted victory in the 17-way Republican nomination contest.

"I think we will win. We have tremendous spirit in this party," he said. "I think I'm going to get the nomination."

Trump denied The Des Moines Register access to his Dubuque news conference, which was live streamed on several websites.

Also during the news conference, Trump engaged in a prolonged confrontation with the anchor of the nation's leading Spanish-language network, first having the well-known news personality removed before allowing him back in.

Prep for the polls: See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide

Jorge Ramos, the Miami-based anchor for Univision, stood up and began to ask Trump about his immigration proposal, which includes ending automatic citizenship for infants born in the United States to parents in the country illegally.

As Ramos began to speak, Trump interrupted him, saying he hadn't called on Ramos before repeatedly telling him to "sit down" and then saying, "Go back to Univision."

As one of Trump's security detail approached Ramos, the anchor continued to speak, saying, "You cannot deport 11 million people." Ramos was referring to Trump's proposal to deport all people in the country illegally before allowing some of them to return.

As he was taken from the room, Ramos said, "You cannot build a 1,900-mile wall," another proposal in Trump's plan.

Moments later, Trump justified Ramos' removal, saying: "He just stands up and starts screaming. Maybe he's at fault also."

The billionaire businessman's immigration proposal has sparked intense debate within the 2016 Republican field. Several candidates, including former Gov. Jeb Bush, have called it "unrealistic," and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker bobbled his answer on whether he supports ending birthright citizenship.

Ramos was later allowed back into the news conference. Trump greeted him politely, though they quickly resumed their argument, interrupting each other during an extended back-and-forth.

"Your immigration plan, it is full of empty promises," Ramos began. "You cannot deny citizenship to children born in this country."

"Why do you say that?" Trump replied. "Some of the great legal scholars agree that's not true."

During the five-minute exchange, Ramos claimed that 40% of people in the country illegally enter through airports, not over the Mexican border. "I don't believe that. I don't believe it," Trump responded.

A 2006 report by the Pew Hispanic Center found that as much as 45% of the people in the U.S. illegally entered with legal visas but overstayed them.

Trump said he did not believe that a majority of immigrants in the U.S. illegally were criminals, or in the country to commit crimes. "Most of them are good people," he said. But he described recent cases where people had been killed by assailants later determined to be in the country illegally.

Finally, Trump reminded Ramos that he was suing Univision, which dropped Trump's Miss Universe pageant after he described immigrants in the U.S. illegally as "criminals" and "rapists."

"Do you know how many Latinos work for me? Do you know how many Hispanics work for me?" Trump said. "Thousands. They love me."

Isaac Lee, chief executive officer of Univision, responded to the confrontation with a written comment: "We'd love for Mr. Trump to sit down for an in-depth interview with Jorge to talk about the specifics of his proposals."

Ramos' the ejection from the news conference drew the ire of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

"Mr. Ramos was doing what journalists have done for decades – asking questions!," said Mekahlo Medina, NAHJ president in a statement on the organization's website. "Ramos was simply trying to hold a candidate for president accountable for statements he made about a very important topic to the American people. Mr. Trump has avoided Mr. Ramos' attempts for an interview to reasonably discuss Mr. Trump's opinions and ideas about immigration and American children born to undocumented immigrants."

Trump told reporters he's leading in every poll, including in Iowa. He said he's the front-runner among evangelicals, whom he described as "incredible people. They're really smart."

"I was very honored to lead with evangelicals. I love evangelicals," he said.

On July 18 in Ames, Trump stirred controversy when he told a crowd of Iowa evangelical conservatives that he has never asked God for forgiveness for his actions. At the same event, he derided the military service of Arizona U.S. Sen. John McCain, a prisoner of war in Vietnam.

After the news conference, Iowa Christian conservative Sam Clovis introduced Trump at his rally. Clovis had been chairman of rival presidential candidate Rick Perry's Iowa campaign, but stepped down this week. The Washington Post reported Tuesday that Clovis has signed on as Trump's national co-chairman and policy adviser.

In his speech, Trump repeatedly criticized the press, a popular theme with conservatives. Pointing at the TV cameras, he said he draws huge television audiences.

"If I didn't get ratings, they wouldn't be here. They're not nice people. They don't care about you. The only thing they care about is ratings," he said.

Trump first denied the Register press credentials to an event late last month, after the newspaper's opinion writers published an editorial calling for him to exit the race. His campaign aides said that as punishment, they were barring the Register's reporters from Trump's rally in Oskaloosa July 25.

His campaign credentialed the Register to attend his helicopter landing and news conference at a softball diamond near the Iowa State Fairgrounds Aug. 15. But on Tuesday afternoon, Trump campaign spokeswoman Hope Hicks said in an email: "We are not able to credential you or your colleagues for tonight's event. You are welcome to attend as a guest, but won't be given media access."

Contributing: The Associated Press