DES MOINES, Iowa — Former President Donald Trump is once again foregoing the debate stage ahead of the Iowa caucuses, instead opting to join Fox News hosts for a town hall in Des Moines.
The network announced the town hall with Trump will be held the same day — Wednesday, Jan. 10 — as CNN's Republican presidential debate at Drake University.
FOX News said the town hall will be co-moderated by anchors Bret Baier, host of Special Report, and Martha MacCallum, from The Story. The network adds the two hosts will focus on "the leading issues facing voters ahead of the Iowa Caucus."
Baier and MacCallum also moderated the first GOP presidential primary debate in 2023 from Milwaukee.
Trump's town hall will air live on the FOX News Channel from 8 to 9 p.m. central time. The network has not yet announced where in Des Moines the town hall will be held.
Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis have confirmed their presence at CNN's debate. In Haley's confirmation announcement, she called out Trump for not coming to any official debates so far in the 2024 election cycle.
“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 December release. “As the debate stage continues to shrink, it’s getting harder for Donald Trump to hide.”
Trump does qualify for the CNN debate, which requires candidates to be polling at 10% or higher in three separate polls, either nationally or in Iowa specifically.
The town hall and debate come just five days ahead of the caucuses.