CNN Reveals Who Qualified for Iowa Debate Ahead of Caucus Day
Former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are the only candidates who qualified for CNN’s Republican primary debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10, the outlet…


Former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are the only candidates who qualified for CNN’s Republican primary debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 10, the outlet announced Tuesday.
The three exceeded the debate criteria, garnering more than 10% support in at least three separate national or Iowa polls that met the outlet’s standards, according to CNN. Trump opted instead for a counter-programming event on Fox News, while conservative businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson did not meet the outlet’s requirements.
The debate will be moderated by CNN’s Jake Tapper and Dana Bash at Drake University at 9 p.m. ET just days ahead of the Jan. 15 caucus, according to the outlet. DeSantis and Haley have both agreed to participate.
Trump will participate in a town hall moderated by Fox News’ Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum during the same time slot, also in Des Moines, Iowa.
Ahead of CNN’s announcement, Ramaswamy announced in a post on X that he’d be participating in a live-audience conversation with Timcast News’ Tim Pool the same evening, also in Des Moines, Iowa.



