Trump on endorsement: ‘I bring a lot of people with me’

Donald Trump, speaking to reporters after he endorsed Mitt Romney on Thursday, said he was impressed by Romney’s recent debate performances and his position on China.

“I watched the last two debates; I thought he was terrific,” Trump said. “And I really thought in terms of creating jobs and creating wealth, I thought he really had a much different attitude and I loved it. I thought his attitude was great -- in those last two debates.”

He declined to say whether he considered endorsing Newt Gingrich.

“He’s a friend of mine, I like him a lot, I respect him a lot, but this is the way I went,” Trump said.

Asked whether he would change his mind about running for president, he said if Romney is the nominee, “I wouldn’t do anything.”

Trump said he would consider donating to the “super PAC” supporting Romney and that he has many followers.

“I bring a lot of people with me. If you look at my Twitter, if you look at my anything, if you look at my ratings, period, we bring a lot of people, not because people like me, but they are with what I’m saying,” he said. “Our country, we’re being just ripped to a tune of trillions of dollars by other countries and other places, whether it’s China or OPEC or India. And I don’t think that’s going to happen with Mitt Romney.”

He said he did not hold it against Romney that the former Massachusetts governor declined to participate in a debate he planned to hold in Iowa in December (the debate never happened).

“He called me and he told me, and I think he would have if I wanted him to. I didn’t put a lot of pressure on him,” Trump said. “I think he would have if I wanted him to but I fully understand his reasoning. He couldn’t have been nicer about it.”