Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he will not moderate next month's GOP debate sponsored by Newsmax.
The reality televison show host's decision came after most Republican presidential candidates declined to participate in the debate, with only Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum agreeing to appear.
Trump said in his statement that Republicans were reluctant to appear at the debate because he was unwilling to rule out an Independent bid for the presidency.
"It is very important to me that the right Republican candidate be chosen to defeat the failed and very destructive Obama administration, but if that Republican, in my opinion, is not the right candidate, I am not willing to give up my right to run as an Independent candidate," Trump said in a statement. "Therefore, so that there is no conflict of interest within the Republican Party, I have decided not to be the moderator of the Newsmax debate."
But Trump could continue to play a role in the coming primary battle, promising to name his choice for the GOP nomination.
"I am going to be announcing an endorsement in some time," Trump said to Fox Business.
They're all afraid that The Donald might run. Hell, if I'm a GOP strategist, I'm terrified of a third-party Trump run. It's a guaranteed Obama second-term. They know it. Trump's debate was something of a shakedown, the GOP called him on it, and now we'll see if Trump is willing to lose millions more of his own money in an independent run.
His ego is that big, but I don't know if his checkbook is. But there's a reason why Team Obama wants as much GOP primary drama as possible.
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