Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump revealed his biggest concern in his supposed negotiations with networks hosting the GOP primary debates.
He wants the thermostat set at something comfortable.
“I don’t really care that much. I’ve enjoyed the debates. I’ve done well in the debates, obviously,” Trump said in a radio interview Thursday on SiriusXM’s Breitbart News Daily. “I don’t really care that much other than I would like it to be, like, you know, 70 degrees in the room.”
The Washington Post reported Monday that Trump had broken with his Republican rivals to negotiate directly with the TV networks that are hosting the debates. The report came in light of a meeting among the campaigns of several Republican candidates who have complained that previous debate moderators and formats have been unfair.
Ben Carson, currently in a virtual tie with Trump as the front-runner, lead an attempt to pressure the Republican National Committee to adjust the formats for the upcoming debates. The effort, however, fizzled when some of the other candidates declined to sign on to the proposed ideas.
“Remember when we went to the Reagan Library [for CNN’s debate in September], it was 100 degrees,” Trump said in the radio interview. “It was ridiculous. You do need certain parameters. But I really just want to debate and get it done. I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed the process.”
A spokesperson for the Trump campaign said that Trump has been negotiating with networks all along, but didn’t discuss the terms.
“As we have for the previous three debates, the Trump campaign will continue to negotiate directly with the host network to establish debate criteria that will determine Mr. Trump’s participation,” the spokesperson told the Washington Examiner media desk. “This is no different than the process that occurred prior to the FOX, CNN and CNBC debates.”
