Donald Trump says he is boycotting the Republican presidential debate hosted by Fox News on Thursday because it will be moderated by anchor Megyn Kelly.
Kelly, with whom Trump has verbally sparred, is one of three moderators for the debate in Des Moines, Iowa.
The debate could prove crucial in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary Mr. Trump's decision to skip the debate shows a willingness to engage in a fight against not only the Republican establishment, but the leading conservative news network in America.
Kelly began the last GOP debate moderated by Fox News with an indictment of Trump, questioning him about the names he's called women with whom he disagrees. Trump has said he was insulted by Kelly's question and, in turn, mocked her demeanor during the debate.
"As a result of a number of different forces, the media have in fact lost control, and in losing control, they've also lost some of the dignity that used to attend a presidential process," according to Frank Sesno, director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at George Washington University. "It's an anti-institutional election cycle, and that's the reason that Trump and all the others have gained so much traction -- one of the institutions that they're running against is the media."
As The New York Times reports, the final straw for Mr. Trump was a press statement from Fox News questioning how, if elected, the GOP front-runner and real estate mogul would be able to handle touchy international relations with the likes of Vladimir Putin or Ayatollah Ali Khamenei if he would not face Megyn Kelly. Trump tweeted that the release was "childishly written" and "taunting."
The network later admitted the statement was a tongue-in-cheek jab from the network's chairman and CEO, Roger Ailes.
© 2024 MusicTimes.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
