Skip to main content
Friday, November 13, 2026Nov 13

Trump, Carson demand that next debate be limited to 2 hours

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a rally in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015.  (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a rally in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Helber) Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump gestures as he speaks during a rally in Richmond, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republican presidential candidates Donald Trump and Ben Carson are threatening to boycott the next GOP debate over its proposed format.

The two political outsiders wrote in a joint letter to CNBC on Thursday that they will not appear at the Oct. 28 debate unless its length is capped at two hours, including commercials.

They also insist that the debate include opening and closing statements from all the candidates.

The last GOP debate, aired on CNN, stretched on for a marathon three hours, earning complaints.

CNBC says in a statement that it’s aiming to host “the most substantive debate possible” and will be taking the candidates’ views into account.