Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump told reporters he was given a "defective" mic to use while debating rival Hillary Clinton on Monday night and questioned whether that was done on purpose.
A majority of voters deemed the Democratic candidate the winner of the first presidential debate, held at Hofstra University. According to a CNN/ORC International poll of debate viewers favored the former secretary of state 62 percent to 27 percent.
But Trump came up with a possible explanation for his lackluster performance.
"Did you notice that? My mic was defective within the room," Trump said. "I wonder, was that on purpose?"
Trump made the claim while speaking to reporters after the debate, during which Trump and Clinton sparred over the GOP candidate's refusal to release his tax returns and Clinton's email scandal, among other issues.
It's not the first time Trump has had issues with technology. At a rally earlier this year in Pensacola, Florida, Trump cursed and vowed not to pay for a faulty microphone he was given.
"This mic is terrible," he said to the crowd as they struggled to hear over the pops and echoes of the mic. "Stupid mic keeps popping. … You know, I believe in paying, but when someone does a bad job – like this stupid mic – you shouldn't pay the (expletive)."
Trump and Clinton are scheduled to face off again Oct. 9 in a town hall-style debate in St. Louis.
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