President Donald Trump will not join the final Republican debate before the Iowa caucuses, instead holding a competing town hall in the state. Iowa’s Republican caucus will be held on Feb. 3.
Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale made the announcement in a statement on Thursday, saying the President will “hold a campaign rally to discuss his Poll Numbers and survey results from Iowa and the enthusiasm behind his candidacy.”
The President’s rally is scheduled to be held on the evening of Jan. 28 – the same day as the highly anticipated debate.
Parscale’s statement added that the rally will be held in Des Moines, Iowa, and did not specify a venue. It is unclear if the town hall will be televised.
The Iowa debate is the fourth and final GOP debate before the caucuses. It will be broadcast live on Fox News at 9 p.m. ET from Des Moines. The debate stage will include the other seven eligible candidates, including former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and businessman Tom Steyer.
Trump’s last appearance at a Republican primary debate was in August 2015, when he famously sparred with then-candidate Carly Fiorina on the stage.