Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump suggested to a Georgia crowd Monday night that he may charge CNN $5 million to appear at the next GOP primary debate, money he said could go to wounded warriors or veterans.
Looking ahead to the next Republican debate, to be hosted by the network on December 15, Trump said: “How about we do this with CNN? I won't do the debate unless they pay me $5 million and the money goes to wounded warriors or vets.”
Trump justified his price tag by saying that he has been a big ratings draw for those networks that have hosted the Republican primary debates.
The GOP hopeful has said in the past he wants networks to donate advertising profits to help military-related charities. However, at other times in his speech, he seemed more skeptical of the idea, telling the crowd of approximately 5,000 that the move would only be spun by his opponents.
"So what will happen is they'll say, ‘Oh, Trump is chicken,"' he said.
Trump flew to Georgia after meeting with dozens of black pastors in his Manhattan offices, and he said that the meeting went very well.
"It was a really terrific day," he said.
Trump's rally Monday evening featured the endorsement of black Georgia Republican Bruce LeVell, who has served as GOP chairman of Gwinett, a suburban Atlanta county. Herman Cain, a black business executive and radio host who ran for president in 2012, was among those introducing Trump.
As he has done at previous rallies, Trump boasted of his standing atop many GOP presidential preference polls. And he pledged to build a wide coalition. "I will win the Hispanics," he said.
However, Trump also emphasized what has been a constant theme of his campaign – his plan to protect the southern border.
"Our borders are like sieves," he said. "People are just pouring in."
He promised, again, that "we're gonna build a wall" and "Mexico is gonna pay for it."
At another point, he boomed: "If you don't have borders, you don't have a country. I'm sorry. ... We've gotta get our country back, folks."
FoxNews.com’s Christopher Synder and The Associated Press contributed to this report.