Trump gets pushed on Islam hate, violence at rallies during GOP debate

Donald Trump got pushed on his most recent comments slamming Islam during a Republican debate on Thursday that lacked the vitriol and personal attacks of the last few.

CNN's moderators focused on more substantive questions, with a lengthy exchange on trade, rather than baiting the candidates to attack each other. And Trump and company decided not to turn the debate into a spectacle as they have recently.

While Trump was asked about recent violence at his rallies, the moderators glaringly failed to ask one question, however. Trump was never asked about multiple accusations that his campaign manager physically assaulted a reporter earlier this week.

Here are the top moments from Thursday's debate.

Trump defends comment that 'Islam hates us'

The GOP front-runner stood by his recent comments that "Islam hates us," insisting that "a lot of them" have "tremendous hatred."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

He was promptly criticized by Marco Rubio and the rest of the field for saying that.

"Presidents can't just say anything they want. It has consequences here and around the world," Rubio fired back.

"If you go to any national cemetery, especially Arlington, you'll see crescent moons there. If you go anywhere in the world you'll see American men and women serving us in uniform that are Muslims. And they love America," he said.

Trump said he doesn't 'condone' violence at his rallies, then defended it

Trump was asked about a recent rally where a supporter was caught on camera punching a protestor who was peacefully exiting. And after saying he doesn't "condone" any violence, he defended his earlier comments that backers should rough up protestors and that he'd pay their legal fees.

"We have some protesters who are bad dudes, they have done bad things. They are swinging, they are really dangerous and they get in there and start hitting people," he said. "If they're going to be taken out, to be honest, we have to run something."

Florida will be flooded but Rubio denies that man-made climate change is real

Rubio was asked about a plea from Miami's Republican mayor — who backs him — to accept the science of climate change.

"Sure, the climate is changing and one of the reasons is because the climate has always been changing," Rubio said in response.

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.