CNN scrapped its planned New Hampshire Republican primary debate after both Donald Trump and Nikki Haley declined to attend.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was the only one willing to commit to the Sunday debate at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, which was set for two days before the Jan. 23 first-in-the-nation primary.
“CNN is no longer moving forward with a New Hampshire Republican Presidential Primary Debate, as only one qualifying candidate accepted our invitation to take the stage. We will continue to pursue other opportunities as the campaign season progresses through 2024, including candidate Town Halls,” a network spokesperson said in a statement.
“With six days to go until the New Hampshire Primary, CNN is announcing a Town Hall this Thursday, January 18 with former Amb. Nikki Haley with Jake Tapper at 9 p.m. ET from New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire, following last night’s CNN Town Hall with Gov. Ron DeSantis and Wolf Blitzer.”
DeSantis and Haley had previously gone head-to-head at a CNN forum in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10, as Trump continued his policy of skipping every GOP debate so far this cycle.
On Tuesday, after finishing in third place in the Iowa caucuses, Haley announced she would no longer take part in debates unless either Trump or President Biden were involved as well.
“We’ve had five great debates in this campaign,” Haley said. “Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide. The next debate I do will either be with Donald Trump or with Joe Biden. I look forward to it.”
On Tuesday evening, ABC News announced it was canceling its scheduled Thursday debate, also due to be held at St. Anselm College, in response to Haley’s ultimatum.
DeSantis, Haley and Trump were all eligible to participate in the debates by virtue of their top-three finishes in the Iowa caucuses.
