Trump Threatens To Boycott Next GOP Debate

Donald Trump says he will not appear at the next GOP debate unless CNBC bows to his demands for changes in the format. Politico reports:

A Republican National Committee conference call to discuss plans for the Oct. 28 GOP debate with top advisers to the presidential campaigns spiraled into chaos on Thursday afternoon as Donald Trump threatened to pull out of the debate if his demands for the format are not met. On the call, according to three sources who were on the line, Corey Lewandowski, Trump’s campaign manager, said that if the debate does not include opening or closing statements and is longer than two hours total, including commercial breaks, the real estate mogul would have to reconsider his participation. Neither Lewandowski nor Trump’s spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, responded to a request for comment. The fiery exchange was one of many on the 29-minute call, which the RNC abruptly scheduled after several campaigns complained a day earlier about CNBC’s planned format for the Boulder debate — particularly the stipulation that candidates not be allowed to give opening and closing statements.

Representatives for Ted Cruz and Rand Paul also complained about the format.