US: Trump admits having signaled support for Iraq war

by Kasim Ileri

WASHINGTON

Republican front-runner Donald Trump admitted Thursday that he "could have" indicated support for the invasion of Iraq in a 2002 interview.

"It was probably the first time I was asked that question," the presidential candidate said Thursday "By the time the war started, I was against the war."

Trump’s comments came during a CNN town hall in Columbia, South Carolina in which he participate alongside Republican hopefuls former Florida governor Jeb Bush and Ohio governor John Kasich ahead of the primary Saturday in the state.

The real estate mogul repeatedly slammed former President George W. Bush for launching the Iraq war.

But just hours before the South Carolina town hall, Buzzfeed, an American news blog, posted a recording of Trump expressing his support for the invasion of Iraq in an interview with Howard Stern, an American radio and TV producer, on Sept. 11, 2002.

Trump tried to defend his position telling CNN's Anderson Cooper that he "wasn't a politician" at the time of the interview.

He also addressed his dispute with Pope Francis.

The pontiff said recently that a candidate who wants to deport undocumented immigrants and build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border was"not Christian", referring to Trump’s proposals on his way back to the Vatican from Mexico.

Trump said that the pontiff was a "wonderful guy", adding that he would meet with the Pope "anytime he wants".

"I don't think this is a fight," Trump said. "I think he said something much softer than was originally reported by the media."

Donald Trump currently leads in the polls for in South Carolina.

According to a new Fox News poll, Trump leads with 32 percent among South Carolina likely Republican primary voters. Texas Senator Ted Cruz is at 19 percent and Florida Senator Marco Rubio at 15 percent.

Bush and former neurosurgeon Ben Carson stand at 9 percent and Kasich is at 6 percent.