ABC News cancels GOP primary debate in New Hampshire

The next Republican primary debate that was scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 18, in New Hampshire is no longer taking place. ABC News announced on Tuesday, Jan. 16, its decision to cancel the debate after it said both former President Donald Trump and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley failed to respond to their invitations by the Tuesday afternoon deadline. 

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“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,” ABC News said in a statement. “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.”

Earlier in the day, Haley released a statement that said she would only debate President Biden or former President Trump, who is coming off a victory in the Iowa caucuses. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who qualified for the ABC News debate, responded to Haley’s comments saying she was afraid to debate. Trump has not participated in the previous debates, citing his commanding lead in the polls.

“We’ve had five great debates in this campaign,” Haley said after Iowa. “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.”

The former president is expected to attend the second day of his defamation trial in New York on Thursday, Jan. 17, before heading back to New Hampshire for campaign events. New Hampshire will hold its primary election next Tuesday, Jan. 23.