Two weeks after looking like a “robot” in an exchange with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio turned the tables on Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump Thursday, and had the front-runner repeating himself as he fought off Rubio’s debate attack.
In an exchange about healthcare, Rubio repeatedly challenged Trump to give his healthcare plan. Trump repeatedly said he would remove the lines between states and increase competitiveness between insurance companies, but Rubio was not impressed.
“I’ll give him a minute of my time so he can say his plan,” Rubio said.
That caused Trump to lash out at Rubio and mention his exchange with Christie in the previous debate when Rubio repeated a stump speech line multiple times in quick succession.
“He had a total meltdown two weeks ago, I heard him repeat himself five times two weeks ago,” Trump said.
But Trump himself was on repeat mode Thursday. “I don’t repeat myself, I don’t repeat myself, I don’t repeat myself,” Trump said as the two fought.
“There he goes repeating himself,” Rubio responded.
“I don’t repeat myself,” Trump said one last time.
Rubio took another shot at Trump after Trump accused Rubio of having a “total meltdown” in the Christie attack. Rubio fired back to applause, “I heard you repeat yourself five times five seconds ago.”
By the end of the exchange, when CNN reporter Dana Bash was trying to get the two candidates to quiet down and allow Trump to finish the exchange so she could ask another question, Rubio hit Trump one last time.
“Maybe you can ask him again what his plan is,” he said.
