Trump on the defensive during Republican debate
Donald Trump came under attack from fellow candidates Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz, a day after veteran Republicans urged voters to abandon the controversial front-runner
Presidential contender Donald Trump has come under attack from his rivals at a Republican debate, after a day in which the party's veteran politicians urged voters to desert him.
The front-runner in the Republican race was on the defensive in Detroit as Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz piled in.
In a testy debate, Trump admitted he changed his stance on issues but said flexibility was a strength.
Senior Republicans say Trump is a liability who would lose the election.
The debate hosted by Fox News began with Trump being asked about an attack earlier in the day by Mitt Romney, the 2012 nominee, who accused the businessman of bullying, greed and misogyny.
Trump dismissed Romney as a "failed candidate", but he immediately found himself on the defensive from Rubio.
The Florida senator said he was "not going to turn over the conservative movement to someone who thinks the nuclear triad is a rock band from the 1980s".
In one of the most bizarre moments, Trump defended the size of his hands and then quipped about another part of his anatomy.
There were plenty of personal insults from Trump, who labelled the Florida senator "little Rubio" and the senator from Texas as "liar Ted".
The New York businessman was forced to explain a civil lawsuit involving the collapse of Trump University.
He said he would win the case but Rubio said he was trying to "con people into giving him their vote, just like he conned people into giving him their money".
