Clinton just pushed Trump’s buttons until he erupted in a temper tantrum on live TV

Donald Trump is the Republican candidate for president of the United States, and not a three-year-old child. And yet, during the second presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, the presidential hopeful erupted in a temper tantrum live on TV.

Tension had been mounting between Trump and his opponent, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, since the pair declined to shake each other's hands at the start of the debate.

At one point in the debate, Trump dredged up now-stale talk of Clinton's email scandal. "33,000 emails deleted, and she's saying there wasn't anything wrong?" he asked at one point in his tirade. 

"Okay, Donald, I know you're into big diversion tonight — anything to avoid talking about your campaign and the way it's exploding and Republicans are leaving you," Clinton said, given the chance to respond.

Moderator Anderson Cooper suggested it was time to move on to a new question from the audience — but Trump wasn't having it.

"Anderson, why aren't you bringing up the emails?" he asked.

"We brought up the emails," Cooper said. 

"It's one on three," Trump grumbled, suggesting Clinton, Cooper and moderator Martha Raddatz were jointly attacking him.

The candidates eventually moved on to fielding a question about healthcare — but not without some lingering bitterness over who would answer first.

"Go ahead, Donald," Clinton said.

"No, I'm a gentleman," Trump said back. "Go ahead."