What would have been the 13th Republican presidential debate on March 21 has been cancelled due to a lack of candidates, Salt Lake City Fox-13 reported Wednesday.
Frontrunner Donald Trump was the first candidate to cancel his appearance, citing his speech at AIPAC and thinking the prior debate was the last one.
In a Wednesday appearance on Fox and Friends, he said, "I thought the last debate on CNN was the last debate, that was going to be it. Nobody told me there were going to be more debates. I think we've had enough debates."
He also asked, "How many times can the same people ask you the same question?"
Gov. John Kasich (R., Ohio) soon followed suit by dropping out of the debate as well.
John Weaver, a senior strategist for Kasich, tweeted:
No debate in SLC Monday due to Trump backing out. No surprise Trump avoiding contrast. Utah: @JohnKasich headed your way Fri.
If Trump changes his mind -- as Carson said there are 2 Trumps -- we will be there. Positive contrasts nicely with division. #Sybil
No debate in SLC Monday due to Trump backing out. No surprise Trump avoiding contrast. Utah: @JohnKasich headed your way Fri.
— John Weaver (@JWGOP) March 16, 2016
Weaver made it clear that if Trump changes his mind, Kasich would come back and debate with the other candidates.
Kasich, Trump, and Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) are the only remaining GOP candidates in a field that once had 17 people. Sen. Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) was the latest to drop out Tuesday night after a disappointing second-place finish in Florida.