Donald Trump: 'My Republican debate is affecting the polls'

Donald Trump has insisted that his upcoming Republican presidential debate is having an effect on the candidates' poll numbers.

The Celebrity Apprentice star is to host a Republican debate ahead of the Iowa Caucus on December 27, but so far only two candidates have agreed to appear.

GOP frontrunner Newt Gingrich and Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum will discuss current events with Trump in Des Moines, while Mitt Romney, Rick Perry, Michele Bachmann and other candidates have declined his invitation.

Trump appeared to take credit for both Gingrich's sudden rise in the polls and former frontrunner Romney's drop in support in an interview with Fox and Friends.

"[Romney's] numbers have gone down very substantially since he said 'no', and a lot people think it's because it showed a lack of decisiveness or a lack of courage in going into this debate," Trump insisted.

The mogul added: "And you look at what happened with Newt. Newt has gone up like a rocket ship [since he agreed to my debate]."



Trump has previously suggested that his endorsement could play a major role in deciding the next president of the United States.

The star himself mulled a run for the White House, but ultimately bowed out of the race in order to focus on The Celebrity Apprentice.

The Celebrity Apprentice returns on Sunday, February 12 at 9/8c on NBC.

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Watch Saturday Night Live parody Donald Trump's debate below: