Paul on Trump’s decision to boycott debate: ‘Good riddance’

And this from Fox News’ own conservative pundit Erick Erickson: “So Donald Trump can’t handle tough questions from Megyn Kelly, but he’ll be able to handle Hillary Clinton”.

Mr Trump’s campaign manager, Mr Corey Lewandowski, told reporters after a combative news conference held by the candidate on Tuesday that Mr Trump would definitely not be participating in the debate scheduled for today in Des Moines, Iowa, and there would be no backing down.

The network eventually agreed to the demands and Trump appeared at the debate.

With Donald Trump backing out of the latest Republican presidential debate at the last minute, Rand Paul will now join the six remaining GOP candidates on the main stage Thursday night.

In an interview with CNN’s Chief Political Analyst Gloria Borger, Bush deemed Trump’s boycott “kind of weird” and claimed that “it’ll hurt him that he’s not showing up in the Iowa debate, four days before the Iowa caucuses”.

After days of fencing with Fox executives over the status of Megyn Kelly as one of the event’s moderators, the Trump campaign released a statement confirming his decision to boycott Thursday’s set-piece.

Trump has been feuding with Fox News since the network put on the first debate in August, when Kelly asked Trump about his treatment of women, prompting a stream of insults from the candidate and complaints of not being treated fairly.

US Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, on Tuesday. “I think she is highly overrated”. In reaction, Cruz quickly issued a challenge to Trump that he would debate him any time, any place and with the moderator of Trump’s choice.

Trump says that as though his huge concern for being “politically correct” has moderated his comments in the past.

Fox News, however, said the show will go on, regardless of whether Trump, 69, shows up – which then prompted the real estate mogul to release another statement. Trump says he’ll host an event for veterans instead. “I think this is the last chance they have before voting begins and he’s still within two points of Ted Cruz”.

Cruz added that Trump doesn’t “want to answer those questions”, which is why he’s “refusing” to show up. So he’s basically going right into his message of ‘I don’t take bull from anyone, ‘ and it’s ideal.