DeSantis and Haley press for Trump to join CNN Iowa debate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley are both planning to participate in a CNN Republican presidential primary debate next month in Iowa, and both candidates are pressuring former President Donald Trump to take part as well.

While DeSantis and Haley both appeared at the four Republican National Committee-affiliated debates this year, Trump skipped all of them. The former president has a decisive lead in polls.

"The first four debates have been great for our campaign and for voters, and we look forward to the fifth in Iowa," Haley said in a statement. "As the debate stage continues to shrink, it's getting harder for Donald Trump to hide."

"The fifth debate is in Des Moines—five days before the Iowa caucuses. Donald Trump should show up," Haley tweeted. She served as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during a portion of Trump's White House tenure.

"If Donald Trump and Nikki Haley are going to continue to spend millions against me on television with false attacks, they should at least have the courage to meet on the debate stage. Now that Nikki Haley has been shamed into coming to the CNN debate, it's time for Donald Trump to follow suit and join us," DeSantis tweeted.

CNN is slated to hold a debate in Iowa on January 10 ahead of the state's January 15 GOP caucus, which kicks off the 2024 Republican presidential nominating contest. Jake Tapper and Dana Bash will moderate the debate. CNN also plans to hold a debate on January 21 in New Hampshire prior to the January 23 presidential primary in that state.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) has endorsed DeSantis while New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) has endorsed Haley.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!