JEB BUSH TELLS LESTER HOLT: ‘I’LL BE SHOWING UP WITH MY BIG BOY PANTS ON’ AT FIRST DEBATE

In a one-on-one interview with NBC News, Bush says Donald Trump’s surge in the polls is a “phenomenon” 

More of Holt’s wide-ranging interview airs throughout the weekend, including Saturday editions of “TODAY” and “NBC Nightly News” and Sunday on “Meet the Press”

JULY 31, 2015 – Jeb Bush discussed the upcoming GOP debate in an interview with NBC’s Lester Holt today, saying: “I’m a big boy.  I’ll be showing up with my big boy pants on.”

Asked about Donald Trump’s candidacy, former Florida Governor said: “I was surprised that Donald Trump has surged. I think he’s captured the deep frustration that people feel,” adding: “I get the lack of rule of law, the sanctuary cities, the open borders.  He’s, in a very graphic way, appealed to people’s anger about those things. And I think it’s important to be respectful of that. Make the case that we can fix these things. And over time, the Trump phenomenon will either succeed or fail based on his proposals.”

The video from “NBC Nightly News” is online here: http://nbcnews.to/1MCJFLq and the NBCNews.com full story can be found here: http://nbcnews.to/1DeQEr6

Plus, Jeb Bush answers a series of rapid fire questions and shares 6 things you didn’t know about him: http://nbcnews.to/1IPkZPf

More of Holt’s interview will air throughout the weekend, including Saturday editions of “TODAY” and “NBC Nightly News” and Sunday’s “Meet the Press.” The interview will be available on NBCNews.com after it airs.

Excerpts of the interview may be used subject to the following restrictions:

  • Mandatory credit to NBC News on first reference.
  • Embedded web video must stream from the NBCNews.com media player with the unobstructed credit as described above.

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For more information contact:

Erin Miller
NBC News
o: (212) 664-2124
c: (917) 943-6274
e: erin.miller@nbcuni.com

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NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 

“NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt” is America’s most-watched evening newscast, going beyond the day’s headlines to uncover stories of how people’s lives are affected by the world around them. “NBC Nightly News” reaches over 24 million people every week through its broadcast and millions more through NBCNews.com, the “Nightly News” app, and social media platforms. Lester Holt is anchor and Patrick Burkey is executive producer.

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