Donald Trump Hints Iowa Republican Debate May Be Canceled
Donald Trump has suggested he might have to cancel his upcoming Republican presidential debate in Iowa considering only two candidates have confirmed their attendance.
When Fox Business Network asked the real estate billionaire and reality star if he would still moderate the debate with only two candidates, he answered, "I have to look into it."
Former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, and former U.S Senator from Pennsylvania, Rick Santorum, are the only confirmed debaters.
Trump added that he was particularly perturbed about Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann declining to attend the debate: "She came up to see me four times. She would call me and ask me for advice. She said if she wins, she would like to think about me for the vice presidency.”
He added: “Most importantly, I did a two-hour phone call for her with her people. ... And after all that, she announced she was not going to do the debate. It's called loyalty. How do you do that? It's amazing to me."
Other Republican candidates have staunchly denied Trump’s invitation to the press, releasing statements about their disapproval of a Trump-moderated Republican debate.
"I didn't know he had the ability to lay on hands and anoint people," said candidate Ron Paul of Texas.
"This is exactly what is wrong with politics. It's show business over substance," said candidate and former Governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman.
Karl Rove, the former Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff for President George W. Bush has also spoken out against Trump hosting a Republican debate.