Trump stages own event as his GOP rivals debate
DES MOINES, Iowa — As his rivals made their final case to voters ahead of Iowa's kickoff caucuses, Donald Trump was headlining a show of his own.
Just three miles from the site of the final GOP presidential debate before voting begins, Republican front-runner Donald Trump held what amounted to a cross between his typical rally and a telethon to benefit veterans.
Between his usual talking points on issues like the country's trade imbalance and media camera angles, Trump read out the names of wealthy friends who'd pledged major contributions to veterans' causes. Later he announced the event had just cracked raising $6 million. When he announced he'd pledged $1 million himself, the crowd erupted in cheers.
It was the latest example of how Trump, a billionaire businessman and former reality television star, has completely rewritten the rules of campaigning, turning typical protocol on its head. Trump decided to boycott the debate due to a feud with debate host Fox News and organized a competing event instead.
Trump opened by telling the students and veterans packed into a 775-seat auditorium at Drake University that he would have preferred to be at the debate, but felt he had little choice.
“You have to stick up for your rights. When you're treated badly, you have to stick up for your rights,” he said.
In an interview before the event, Trump said that he'd been in touch with Fox throughout the day.
“The time to change my mind was two days ago,” he said. “It's too late. When you look at the lines, what am I going to do? Tell thousands of people that, by the way folks, I'm going to go do the debate?”
Trump's campaign did not disclose on Thursday which groups would receive money raised from the event, but representatives had spent the day reaching out to various groups, in some cases inquiring about their programs and finances. Among those contacted were the Green Beret Foundation, which provides care to veterans, and Fisher House, which provides free or low cost housing to veterans and military families receiving treatment at military medical centers.
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