On Tuesday (Jan 16) that the upcoming presidential debate has been postponed due to former UN ambassador Nikki Haley’s declaration that she would not take the stage unless Donald Trump participated.
On Tuesday, Nikki Haley declared that she would not partake in the upcoming Republican presidential debate unless former President Donald Trump also participates, leaving Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the sole confirmed candidate for Thursday’s event.
While campaigning in New Hampshire, Haley emphasized her commitment to engaging in debates and expressed disappointment in Trump’s avoidance of the previous five debates in the campaign. She asserted that the next debate she participates in will be either with Donald Trump or Joe Biden, emphasizing her eagerness for a robust exchange of ideas.
This statement follows the Iowa caucuses, where Trump secured a significant victory, leaving Haley and DeSantis in a competitive race for second place. Haley emphasized her candidacy as a departure from the perceived “chaos” associated with the GOP front-runner.
DeSantis Criticizes Haley
In the recent debate, featuring only Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis, the former’s performance fell short of expectations. Subsequently, Haley lost Iowa to DeSantis, who managed to make a comeback in the final moments of the campaign. Seizing the opportunity, the Florida governor once again aimed at Haley, suggesting that she was avoiding the competition.
“Nikki Haley is avoiding debates because she doesn’t want to tackle challenging questions, such as how she amassed wealth from Boeing after providing them with millions in taxpayer subsidies during her tenure as governor of South Carolina. The reality is that she is not vying for the nomination but aiming to become Trump’s VP,” DeSantis asserted on X (formerly known as Twitter).
“I won’t disregard New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and intend to uphold my commitments. I eagerly anticipate engaging in debates even if it means facing two empty podiums in the Granite State this week,” he remarked.
Haley’s choice also raises uncertainties about the New Hampshire debate, slated for Sunday (Jan 21) on CNN.