“I’m not a fan of Megyn Kelly”, Trump said in Iowa on Tuesday.
Advertisement
On Tuesday night’s airing of her Fox News show, “The Kelly File”, Kelly said she’ll be at the debate, which will “go on with or without Mr. Trump”.
In an Instagram video that coincided with his poll, Trump said, “Megyn Kelly’s really biased against me”.
“I didn’t like the fact that they sent out press releases, toying, talking about Putin, and playing games”, the real estate tycoon said in reference to “wise-guy” press release Fox News released Tuesday. “Everybody knows my views and I think my views are very plain”, Trump said.
Moments earlier, Trump himself all but ruled out the debate out at a press conference.
Trump had been evasive about participating in the upcoming debate because of the line of questioning from Fox anchor Megyn Kelly in the first debate.
Trump was also widely seen as the candidate best able to win in November with 63 percent of Republicans saying so, compared with 16 percent who saw Cruz as best positioned to win and 10 percent who named Rubio.
Friends and family of a Louisiana sheriff’s deputy critically wounded in New Orleans while serving a warrant were praying for him as well-wishers rushed to give blood to help in his recovery.
“I think everybody knows about me”, Trump said simply, adding later that bringing that up was a “cheap shot”.
Trump, pressed on his plans to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexican border and deport many illegal immigrants, defended his proposal and said he would be able to persuade the U.S. Congress to go along with his plan. “But I’ll tell you this: the American people should wonder if you’re not willing to show up when everything isn’t going your way and exactly the way you want to”. “If I was mad at work, I don’t just stay home, you know”.
“Well, we’re looking at it. I don’t think [Megyn Kelly] can be fair”, said Trump. “So most likely I won’t be doing the debate”.
Trump said Fox’s response was “written by a child”.
In the Democratic contest, news channel MSNBC and the New Hampshire Union Leader newspaper sketched out plans to host a debate in New Hampshire among Clinton and challengers Bernie Sanders and Martin O’Malley, a few days before the state’s primary election on February 9.
“Like running for office as an extremely successful person, this takes guts and it is the kind mentality our country needs in order to Make America Great Again”, the statement continued.
Advertisement
In a separate statement on Tuesday afternoon, Ailes said the “entire network stands behind Kelly” and that she “will absolutely be on the debate stage on Thursday night”.
