Caves

CNBC caves to Trump's demands for next GOP debate

By Alex Isenstadt

CNBC is moving to accommodate Republican presidential campaigns in their demands for the Oct. 28 debate.

On Thursday evening, the Republican National Committee, which has been working with CNBC on the format for the debate, which will be held in Boulder, Colorado, began calling around to campaigns to inform them that the program would be no longer than two hours total, according to two sources involved in the talks.

RNC officials also said that CNBC is considering format changes to allow some form of opening or closing statements.

An RNC spokesman, Sean Spicer, declined to comment other than to say: “All debates involve a process of a conversation by the RNC, the candidates and the network. We have been having a very constructive ongoing dialogue with all of the candidates and CNBC.”

CNBC declined comment.

Audience members listen as Republican presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson speaks during a town hall meeting, Friday, Oct. 2, 2015, in Ankeny, Iowa.

The negotiations followed two contentious conference calls that were held on Wednesday and Thursday in which multiple campaigns expressed concerns about CNBC’s planned format for the coming debate — particularly the network’s stipulation that candidates not be allowed to give opening and closing statements. In a heated, 29-minute call organized by the RNC on Thursday, several campaigns — including that of front-runner Donald Trump — threatened to boycott the forum if their demands were not met.

Aides to Trump and another leading candidate, Ben Carson, have said that they will not participate if the debate is longer than two hours, including commercials, and if it doesn’t include opening and closing statements.

Trump fired off a celebratory tweet early Friday morning, saying that “@CNBC has just agreed that the debate will be TWO HOURS. Fantastic news for all, especially the millions of people who will be watching!”