The South Carolina Republican senator made the announcement in a televised interview on Fox News with Trey Gowdy. The news came as a shock to his own staff. Multiple campaign staff members confirmed to POLITICO that they had no prior knowledge of Scott’s decision prior to the live television announcement.

“I love America more today than I did on May 22nd, but when I go back to Iowa, it will not be as a presidential candidate. I am suspending my campaign,” Scott told Gowdy. “I think the voters who are the most remarkable people on the planet have been really clear that they’re telling me, Not now, Tim.”

His departure from the debate leaves Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Chris Christie to battle it out against the current frontrunner - former president Donald Trump.