I'll be presidential when I'm president: Trump promises to come out fighting in prime time debate rematch with his ultimate foe - Megyn Kelly

Donald Trump suggested this morning that he'll come out swinging in tonight's Fox News Republican debate after letting Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz beat him up last time around

'I can't act overly presidential because I'm gonna have people attacking me from every side,' Trump this morning on Today. 'I would have a very, very presidential demeanor when I win, but until such time, you have to hit back.'

Tonight his patience will be tested on multiple fronts as he faces Fox News star Megyn Kelly, a moderator of the debate, for the first time since their bitter clash on the first GOP fight night.

On Good Morning America Trump said he was 'absolutely ready' to face Kelly. 

Tonight Donald Trump's patience will tested on multiple fronts as he faces Fox News star Megyn Kelly, a moderator of the debate, for the first time since their bitter clash on the first GOP fight night

Star quality: Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly arrives at the Vanity Fair Oscars after-party earlier this week

'I'm ready, I'm absolutely ready,' he said.

Kelly likewise said during an interview with Reuters that she's over the tiff and doesn't expect a showdown this evening.

'Frankly, I have been ready for seven months to move beyond what happened after that August debate,' she said. 'I feel like it's getting boring. Trump has bigger things to worry about, and so do I.'

Of a possible clash with Trump, she said, 'I have my questions. That's all I need.'

She told the Associated Press, 'I think at this point in the game he understands better how these things go. He knows he can handle me. He can handle any interviewer.'

Kelly jokingly said in an interview earlier this month on The Late Show, 'I’m going to start with "Apology accepted". '  

A campaign spokesperson told Daily Mail Online that Trump was a 'yes' for tonight's debate, and the Republican front-runner has made no indication that he wouldn't show.

The decision comes after Trump wondered out loud at a campaign rally about whether he should attend.

Speaking to supporters in Oklahoma City, he said the debates 'seem like a terrible waste of time' Business Insider reported.

'Aren't these debates ridiculous, though?' he asked. 'How about if I don't do the next debate? Yes?' Trump asked.

It is the third GOP debate hosted by Fox News this year, but only the second one with Trump, as he boycotted the network's Des Moines, Iowa, sparring match in January.

The feud goes back to August, when Kelly told him at the first of the election cycle: 'You've called women you don't like, "fat pigs", "dogs", slobs, and disgusting animals.'

When Trump replied 'only Rosie O'Donnell', Kelly hit back and said, 'No it wasn't. For the record, it was well beyond Rosie O'Donnell.

'Your Twitter account has several disparaging comments about women's looks. You once told a contestant on "Celebrity Apprentice" it would be a pretty picture to see her on her knees,' she said.

'Does that sound to you like the temperament of a man we should elect as president?'

I'm in: Trump confirmed his attendance at the debate moderated by Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, ending a boycott going back to their feud in August last year

Trump later used his Twitter account to call Kelly 'unprofessional' then in a CNN interview, said of her: 'You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes. Blood coming out of her - wherever.'

The comment led to widespread claims of sexism and misogyny. Trump and Fox News made up, but when the next debate came around in January, he did not take part, instead holding a rally which raised money for veterans' groups.

That prompted Kelly to suggest off air that the other candidates had treated him like Voldemort - the Harry Potter villain whose nickname was 'he who must not be named'.

Fox News later said that she was unfamiliar with the Harry Potter books and was unaware that Voldemort was tied to the phrase.

Last month, Trump again boycotted a Fox News event hosted by Kelly, a town hall in Houston, Texas,even though other remaining candidates took part. 

Asked about the drama Kelly in a post-Super Bowl by Stephen Colbert, Kelly said, 'Donald Trump has been on Fox News 140 times in the last year. We are not feuding with him. But he does have a beef with me.' 

'The only thing I really wanted to ask him was, he recently said his supporters are so devoted to him he could go in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot someone and he wouldn’t lose a single voter. In response to which I want to ask him, "Were you talking about me?” ' she said, laughing.

Kelly sarcastically added, 'I never go there anymore.'

Trump Tower is on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan - and Fox News headquarters is on Sixth Avenue.

She told the Associated Press in a new interview, 'It was never personal from my point of view.'

'I understand he was upset. I didn't take it personally and I certainly don't have anything against him. I find him a very fascinating person to cover.' 

Talking about the debate this morning on Today, to co-host Matt Lauer, Trump said, 'When people are hitting you from different angles....unfortunately Matt, you have to hit back.' 

'When you hit back, you're no longer presidential, unfortunately,' he mused.