Trump to skip next Republican debate

AFP, DES MOINES, United States: White House hopeful Donald Trump will not participate in Thursday’s Republican debate, bowing out of a nationally televised showdown just four days before Iowa kicks off the presidential nomination process. Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, publicly toyed with the idea of pulling out of the debate during a campaign event late Tuesday in Iowa, where he said “probably I won’t be doing the debate.”
That was confirmed soon after when his campaign said in a typically bombastic statement that “Mr. Trump knows a bad deal when he sees one,” and lashed out at Fox News, the host of the Iowa debate.
Trump claims that Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly, who will moderate the debate, is biased against him.
Trump’s decision to drop out heightens his feud with Fox News, its chairman Roger Ailes and Kelly.
“Roger Ailes and FOX News think they can toy with him, but Mr. Trump doesn’t play games,” said the strongly worded statement, claiming that the billionaire and former reality TV star had won all the six previous debates against his Republican rivals.
Instead, the 69-year-old—who has never held elected office—said he will host an event to raise money for military veterans.
Trump, who has called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States and accused Mexico of sending rapists into America, made it clear that he had little time for Kelly.
“I don’t think she can treat me fairly. And I’m not a big fan of hers,” Trump told CNN.
Kelly moderated the first debate of the campaign cycle, in August, when she asked Trump tough questions. Afterwards Trump insinuated that Kelly treated him unfairly because she was menstruating.
“She gets out and she starts asking me all sorts of ridiculous questions,” Trump told CNN after the August debate. “You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever.” Ailes however fully supported his moderator.
“Megyn Kelly is an excellent journalist and the entire network stands behind her,” Ailes told The Washington Post. “She will absolutely be on the debate stage on Thursday night.”
Refusing to back down, Fox intensified the standoff by mocking Trump, who had asked his five million Twitter followers to weigh in on whether or not he should attend the debate.
“A nefarious source tells us that Trump has his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with his Twitter followers to see if he should even go to those meetings” with the leaders of Iran and Russia, Fox News said in a tongue-in-cheek statement.

Trump to skip next Republican debate

AFP, DES MOINES, United States: White House hopeful Donald Trump will not participate in Thursdays Republican debate, bowing out of a nationally televised showdown just four days before Iowa kicks off the presidential nomination process. Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, publicly toyed with the idea of pulling out of the debate during a campaign event late Tuesday in Iowa, where he said probably I wont be doing the debate. That was confirmed soon after when his campaign said in a typically bombastic statement that Mr. Trump knows a bad deal when he sees one, and lashed out at Fox News, the host of the Iowa debate. Trump claims that Fox News reporter Megyn Kelly, who will moderate the debate, is biased against him. Trumps decision to drop out heightens his feud with Fox News, its chairman Roger Ailes and Kelly. Roger Ailes and FOX News think they can toy with him, but Mr. Trump doesnt play games, said the strongly worded statement, claiming that the billionaire and former reality TV star had won all the six previous debates against his Republican rivals. Instead, the 69-year-oldwho has never held elected officesaid he will host an event to raise money for military veterans. Trump, who has called for a ban on Muslims entering the United States and accused Mexico of sending rapists into America, made it clear that he had little time for Kelly. I dont think she can treat me fairly. And Im not a big fan of hers, Trump told CNN. Kelly moderated the first debate of the campaign cycle, in August, when she asked Trump tough questions. Afterwards Trump insinuated that Kelly treated him unfairly because she was menstruating. She gets out and she starts asking me all sorts of ridiculous questions, Trump told CNN after the August debate. You could see there was blood coming out of her eyes, blood coming out of her wherever. Ailes however fully supported his moderator. Megyn Kelly is an excellent journalist and the entire network stands behind her, Ailes told The Washington Post. She will absolutely be on the debate stage on Thursday night. Refusing to back down, Fox intensified the standoff by mocking Trump, who had asked his five million Twitter followers to weigh in on whether or not he should attend the debate. A nefarious source tells us that Trump has his own secret plan to replace the Cabinet with his Twitter followers to see if he should even go to those meetings with the leaders of Iran and Russia, Fox News said in a tongue-in-cheek statement.