RNC Reverses Warning, Allows GOP Candidates to Attend Iowa Christian Group's Forum

DeSantis, Scott, Ramaswamy Confirm Attendance; Trump to Skip Event Amid Controversy

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has reversed its warning to GOP presidential candidates about attending the Family Leader's Thanksgiving forum in Iowa, which it had previously stated could lead to disqualification from future debates.
The RNC and the Family Leader's president and CEO, Bob Vander Plaats, reached an agreement on the format of the forum, clarifying that it is not a debate, thus allowing candidates to participate without repercussions.
Five candidates were invited to the forum, including former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. DeSantis, Scott, and Ramaswamy have confirmed their attendance, while Trump has no plans to attend.
The RNC had initially warned candidates in an October 28 letter that participating in non-RNC-sanctioned debates during the campaign could lead to disqualification from future RNC-sanctioned presidential primary debates.
Despite the initial warning from the RNC, DeSantis confirmed his attendance at the forum, stating that it's an important part of the election process and should not cause the RNC to penalize any candidate.