Donald Trump says he will not participate in the next GOP presidential debate on Monday that will air on Fox News. The GOP frontrunner coming off a strong showing on Super Tuesday won’t be in Utah, because in his own words in “we’ve had enough debates.”
The first presidential debate of any kind in Utah will begin at 9 p.m. and take place at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Fox News hosts Bret Baier, Megyn Kelly and Chris Wallace will moderate.
The debate will take place the day before Utah’s presidential caucuses.
During an interview on “Fox & Friends” interview Wednesday morning, Mr. Trump said he couldn’t attend next week’s debate hosted by Fox News in Utah because he was committed to speaking before the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.
“I won’t be there, no,” Mr. Trump said.” I’ll be honest, no one even told me about it.”
Trump said the he had committed to speaking Monday night before AIPAC a while ago and that he was hit with the additional debate “yesterday or something.” The Republican National Committee announced it was holding the additional debate in Salt Lake City on Feb. 20.
Without Trump, the only two onstage would be Ohio Gov. John Kasich, who won his home state in the same contests Tuesday, and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. It would be a clash of potential alternatives as each man maneuvers to claim the mantle of credible alternative to the brash billionaire who has controlled the race for month.
