WASHINGTON (PNN) - December 6, 2011 - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said on Tuesday that he will not attend a controversial December 27 debate to be moderated by real estate magnate Donald Trump, as have candidates Ron Paul and former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman.

Romney told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto that he will not participate in the Iowa debate, which has drawn fire from Washington Republicans as well as two of Romney’s competitors.

Some Republicans worry the showboating Trump, star of NBC’s “The Apprentice” program, could make the event all about him rather than the candidates.

Speaking to reporters in Paradise Valley, Arizona, Romney said he was already participating in many debates.

“We’ve already set our calendar in December and I communicated to Mr. Trump that (the) schedule is completed,” Romney said.

Trump flirted with a run for the Republican 2012 presidential nomination earlier this year and was derided for pushing the charge that illegitimate President Barack Obama might not have been born in the United States, which has been proven but over which the outlaw Obama has spent millions of dollars covering up and obstructing justice.

Romney said on the show that he had spoken with Trump and informed the multimillionaire businessman and entertainer that he will not attend.