October 15, 2015

Mr. Matthew Cuddy

Washington Bureau Chief
CNBC
1025 Connecticut Avenue
Washington, DC 20036
Dear Mr. Cuddy:
While we appreciate you taking time to talk with to the 2016 Republican Presidential campaigns,
you included terms for the debate to which Donald Trump and Trump for President, Inc. and Dr.
Ben Carson and Carson America, Inc., do not agree.
Mr. Trump and Dr. Carson do agree to a 120 minute debate that includes commercial breaks and
opening and closing statements. Mr. Trump and Dr. Carson do not, and will not, agree to appear
at a debate that is more than 120 minutes long including commercials breaks. Further, the debate
must include opening and closing statements from all the candidates.
Specifically, we write because the Agenda sent to the campaigns recently by CNBC in
partnership with the Republican National Committee (RNC), and reiterated on yesterdays call,
indicated that there would be two hours of debate time plus four commercial breaks lasting
between 2 and 4 minutes each. In addition, your Agenda stated there would not be any opening
or closing statements and included a statement that the campaigns had agreed.
To be clear, neither of our campaigns agreed to either the length you propose or your ban on
opening or closing statements. In fact, neither of our campaigns were even consulted.
Neither of those conditions are acceptable. Neither Mr. Trump or Dr. Carson will participate in
your debate if it is longer than 120 minutes including commercials and does not include opening
and closing statements.
Both our campaigns hope that you will agree with these very reasonable format changes so that
CNBC may present all the Republican candidates to your audience.
Please inform Michael Glassner (MGlassner@DonaldTrump.com) of Mr. Trumps campaign and
Ed Brookover (Ed.Brookover@carsonhq.com) of Dr. Carsons of your decision.
Sincerely,
Mr. Donald J. Trump
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.

Dr. Benjamin Carson

Carson America, Inc.