Crowds who paid up to $500 to hear Donald Trump speak on how to get rich instead heard "The Donald" bashing Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and questioning the competence of the Bush administration.

When talk of wealth turned to politics at the private class at the Learning Annex, Trump first discussed Rice.

- said. "I don't care if she's lovely. I want someone who can go and make deals. She goes to countries and nothing ever happens except sound bites."

Trump also talked about outgoing Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

"Look at this guy Rumsfeld," Trump said. "Millions of people have been killed. We're spending as a country, I guess up to $900 billion so far but much more important arms and legs and lives are wasted, including the Iraqis by the way."

Trump says he was talking about success in general, but one veteran political reporter was skeptical and thinks there may be a political motive, the report said.

"He is flirted with the possibility of an independent run for president and I think he's flirting again," New York Post state editor Frederic Dicker said.

Trump was not available for an interview concerning the story but a friend and former political advisor said he is not betting on Trump having political ambitions.

'Why would he want to be president?" Republican strategist Roger Stone said. "He's got the greatest job in the world right now."

Trump did form an exploratory committee for the 2000 elections before deciding not to run for president and the man who advised him to run back then isn't exactly saying it would be a bad idea for 2008, according to the report.

"Of course, I'd love to see him run because he's got celebrity status far beyond a number of people that are thinking about running," Stone said.

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