CNN canceled its plans to host a New Hampshire GOP debate on Sunday after former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley said she would only participate if former President Donald Trump did.
Before its cancellation, Flordia Gov. Ron DeSantis was the only presidential candidate committed to participating.
BREAKING: CNN cancels NH debate after Nikki Haley refuses to debate Ron DeSantishttps://t.co/DL7VqYPkVShttps://t.co/DL7VqYPkVS
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 17, 2024
Instead, CNN plans to hold a town hall on Thursday with Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley. The event begins at 9 p.m. and is moderated by Jake Tapper at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire. CNN will hold a town hall event with DeSantis on Tuesday.
“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 CNN spokesperson said.
Following placing third in the Iowa caucus Monday night, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley stated the Republican primary had become a two-person race between herself and former President Trump, even though DeSantis placed second. On Tuesday morning, Haley noted that moving forward, she would only debate President Biden and Trump.
“We’ve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide,” Haley said in a statement.
CNN’s debate cancellation comes only one day after ABC pulled its scheduled New Hampshire debate due to the lack of participation by Trump and Haley.
“Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race,” a spokesperson for ABC said.
“The public knows who I am and what a successful presidency I had. I WILL, THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!” Trump declared last August on Truth Social.
Meanwhile, DeSantis commented on Haley’s and Trump’s lack of participation in the debates. “I won’t snub New Hampshire voters like Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and I plan to honor my commitments. I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week,” he said on X.
A CNN spokesperson said they would continue to pursue other opportunities through the 2024 campaign season.
