MANASSAS, Va. — Donald Trump thinks low-polling Republican candidates and those who’ve failed to qualify for the ballot in early voting states should be barred from participating in future GOP debates.
“Why would you let them on the debate stage to waste everybody’s time?” the Republican presidential front-runner told supporters at a campaign rally Wednesday evening.
“It’s not unfair, it’s just stupid. It’s like, what are we doing?” he added.
Trump named Ohio Gov. John Kasich specifically, claiming Kasich is the “worst debater I’ve ever seen.” The two candidates took turns jabbing each other during the fourth Republican debate in mid-November.
“He’s a professional politician and he can’t speak properly,” Trump said. Despite polling at 2.5 percent nationally, Kasich is set to appear on the ballot in the three earliest voting states – Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
Trump also said banning lower-tier candidates from the debate stage would benefit viewers by allowing them to hear more from candidates like himself. He imitated previous debates where the candidates have been restricted to delivering 30 to 90-second answers.
“‘Mr. Trump, the Middle East. In 30 seconds sir what would you do?’ Thirty seconds?” Trump said incredulously.
Trump, who holds the No. 1 spot in the Washington Examiner’s presidential power rankings, is slated to arrive in Washington, D.C. Thursday for a presidential forum hosted by the Republican Jewish Coalition
