Politics

ABC News cancels Republican debate after Haley refuses to debate without Trump

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Chelsey Cox@therealco
WATCH LIVE
Key Points
  • ABC News said Tuesday that it would not proceed with a planned Thursday Republican primary debate after Nikki Haley said she would not participate unless Donald Trump did, too.
  • "He has nowhere left to hide," Haley said of Trump, who won a landslide Monday in the Iowa Caucus.
  • Haley currently polls behind Trump in New Hampshire, where the first primary of the cycle will be held on Jan. 23.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Nikki Haley, then-U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, in the Oval Office of the White House on in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 9, 2018.
Olivier Douliery | AFP | Getty Images

WASHINGTON — ABC News has announced it will not move forward with its Republican presidential primary debate in New Hampshire on Thursday, hours after Nikki Haley said she would not participate in further debates unless front-runner Donald Trump is on stage.

"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," an ABC News spokesperson told CNBC. "As a result, 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."

Trump won a landslide victory Monday in the Iowa Caucus, the first contest of the 2024 presidential nomination. Haley placed third in Iowa, with 19.1% of the vote.

On Tuesday, Haley accused Trump of "ducking" the debates.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis accused Haley of not wanting to answer "tough questions" on topics such as her alleged dealings with aircraft manufacturer Boeing while she was governor of South Carolina.

"The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she's running to be Trump's VP," DeSantis posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, on Tuesday. "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."

The next GOP primary debate is scheduled for Thursday, days before the New Hampshire primary on Jan. 23. Polls have Haley running just behind Trump in the state, some polls by as little as 7 points.

-- This story has been updated to include ABC's announcement.

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