Fox News Options Megyn Kelly To Moderate Next GOP Debate, Donald Trump May Attend
Fox News has made another calculated decision to have one of their top anchors, Megyn Kelly, come back as a moderator in the next Republican presidential debate. Despite the national headlining feud between Kelly (as well as Fox News) and former GOP Presidential candidate frontrunner Donald Trump, Kelly will also be heavily involved in the debate’s moderation and there is a good chance that Trump will suck up his pride and participate following his humiliating defeat to Senator Ted Cruz in the Iowa primary earlier this week.
Although Trump has been in recent month hailed as a ratings magnet for GOP debates as well late night talk shows and other media interviews, the ratings could go through the roof if he decides to participate in this debate on Fox News.
Trump optioned to sit out the last GOP debate on Fox News, citing that Kelly unfairly targeted him in her questions about potentially misogynistic statements that he had made via social media. He also went after her following the debate, making personal attacks and insinuating that she had been menstruating during the debate.
Stuart Stevens: “I think [@realDonaldTrump‘s] headed to defeat in N.H. in all likelihood.” #KellyFile pic.twitter.com/XHIuB1vSyh
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 4, 2016
He also famously had a feud with Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes.
Trump seemed to graciously accept defeat on Monday’s Iowa primaries when he said that he “was honored” to be in second place, although he did not even come close to Cruz in the election. As a matter of fact, he was nearly tied with third place winner, Senator Marco Rubio.
As reported by the Hill, the details of the third Fox News debate have only recently been released and it will take place on March 3 in Detroit, Michigan.
Megyn Kelly will join the returning triumvirate team of moderators alongside Brett Baier and Chris Wallace. All three have hosted the previous two debates on Fox News, the last of which did not feature Trump.
The previous Fox News debate was not the first time Trump had made demands of the hosting network in order for him to appear. He had previously demanded a payment of $5 million from CNN. But when CNN did not cave to his demand, he still participated in the debate. Per the January 28 statement from a Fox News spokesperson, he had demanded something similar from them as well.
“Roger Ailes had three brief conversations with Donald Trump today about possibly appearing at the debate – there were not multiple calls placed by Ailes to Trump. In the course of those conversations, we acknowledged his concerns about a satirical observation we made in order to quell the attacks on Megyn Kelly, and prevent her from being smeared any further. Furthermore, Trump offered to appear at the debate upon the condition that FOX News contribute $5 million to his charities. We explained that was not possible and we could not engage in a quid pro quo, nor could any money change hands for any reason.”
Last month, Trump demanded that Fox News bar Kelly from any future debates or else he would not participate. The decision to follow through with his threat came down to the 11th hour, but he made good on it and stayed off the platform.
Skipping the Fox News debate is one of the reasons that he cited as what hurt him in the Iowa primary race, although he has seemed to flip-flopped on that excuse, now saying that Cruz won the race through nefarious means and fraudulent tactics.
Based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz during the Iowa Caucus, either a new election should take place or Cruz results nullified.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 3, 2016
But it would be reasonable to assume that skipping the Fox News debate ultimately cost him a win in Iowa, where he had long been the frontrunner to win based on early polling numbers from various independent and media sources.
This is the Cruz voter violation certificate sent to everyone, a misdemeanor at minimum. pic.twitter.com/tMav17UGkf
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 4, 2016
When the debate airs live on Fox News on March 3, the primary season will already have a whole host of winners and losers on the board. Before that Fox News event takes place, voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada, Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming will all have already weighed in on their pick for the GOP presidential candidate.
Poll shows @realDonaldTrump leading in New Hampshire with 29%. #SpecialReport pic.twitter.com/3eXfSGPb6K
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 4, 2016
There is a good chance that Trump will not be skipping this next Fox News debate, especially if it is a close race at the time it occurs.
.@marcorubio: “I will unite the Republican Party. We can’t win if we’re not united.” #Hannity pic.twitter.com/o3sWwnyx52
— Fox News (@FoxNews) February 4, 2016
The GOP candidate field will also be a narrower race at that time as well. Fox News is reporting that Rick Santorum has suspended his campaign and went on to endorse Marco Rubio.
[Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images for AWXII]
