Washington: Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump’s feud with a top American news network has intensified just days ahead of the crucial Iowa caucus, as the controversial billionaire announced a rival event alongside a televised debate he boycotted.
Trump on Wednesday night refused to reconsider his decision of not attending the face-off on Fox News even as he was being slammed by opponents for his relentless barrage against the network’s anchor Megyn Kelly. The 69-year-old real-estate Mogul’s criticism of Kelly has continued in retaliation for the tough questioning she submitted him to in the first Republican debate last summer.
Trump announced a rival event to benefit Veteran Organisations in Des Moines exactly at the same time as the debate begins, injecting a sense of chaos into the contest. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said he would move forward with his own event and would not attend the debate — the last one before the Iowa Caucus on February 1, which would formally begin the already unconventional presidential race.
“We’re going to raise a lot of money for the vets,” Trump said at a rally in South Carolina.
Trump also continued his criticism of Kelly, who he has accused of bias against him. “I have zero respect for Megyn Kelly. I don’t think she’s good at what she does and I think she’s highly overrated,” he alleged. In turn, Fox has shot back accusing Trump of “terrorising” the network after he pulled out of the last televised debate four days before voting begins in presidential primary polls. The network has said it will go ahead with the debate as scheduled.
In a testy interview, Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly told Trump: “I submit to you that you need to change and get away from the personal.”
“I don’t like being taken advantage of,” Trump said, referring to Fox’s refusal to dump Kelly from its panel of moderators. I’m not going to let our country be taken advantage of.”
Trump’s gamble has likely paid off as he was again dominating the airwaves and making his rivals and the party squirm, all this while consolidating his lead among voters.
NRI group says Trump’s America’s ‘best hope’
Hailing Donald Trump as United States’ “best hope”, a group of Indian-Americans has formed a group to campaign for the Republican and asserted the community would benefit the most from his policies.
‘Indian-Americans for Trump 2016’, registered as a political action committee is aimed at garnering support of NRIs, for Trump.
“On realising Trump’s agenda is focused on reviving US economy, defeating terrorism and establishing peace through strength; many Indian-Americans believe he is the best hope for America and the right candidate to be the next president of the USA,” the PAC said in a statement.
