ABC News Calls Off New Hampshire GOP Primary Debate Over Haley and Trump No-Shows

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell

ABC News has canceled Thursday’s GOP debate in New Hampshire, after Nikki Haley (R-SC) said she would only show up if Donald Trump did, too.

The network had given the Haley and Trump camps until 5 p.m. Tuesday to commit to the debate, which they apparently did not do, leading to ABC News canceling the event altogether.

HuffPost posted on social media:

“ABC News called off its Republican primary debate in New Hampshire on Thursday after former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said she would no longer participate if former President Donald Trump failed to show up.”

ABC News released the following statement, as reported in The Wrap:

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. While our robust election coverage will continue, ABC News and WMUR-TV will not be moving forward with Thursday’s Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire.

A surprising new poll showed Haley to be tied with Trump in New Hampshire with 40% of the GOP vote. She tweeted Tuesday, “We’ve had five great debates in this campaign. 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..”

Haley also told MSNBC’s Ali Vitali that Trump’s presence was an absolute must in order for her to debate.

“I think we need to see, is Trump going to be on the stage? That’s my question,” she said to Vitali.

The former president hasn’t shown up to any of the five previous debates, instead opting for “friendly” Fox News and Tucker Carlson interviews where he was allowed to repeat his election lies and conspiracy theories.

For his part, Ron DeSantis (R-FL) posted to social media Tuesday that he planned to be on the debate stage.

“I won’t snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honor my commitments. I look forward to debating two empty podiums in the Granite State this week.”

None of the campaigns for Haley, Trump, or DeSantis have said what will come in place of the debate.