Story highlights The retired neurosurgeon has been running strong in the primary alongside his fellow political outsider and front-runner

It's the first time Carson has expressed the possibility of bucking the GOP

Washington (CNN) Ben Carson on Friday took a page from Donald Trump's playbook by threatening to depart the Republican Party.

Ahead of Tuesday's GOP presidential debate, the retired neurosurgeon slammed the party after reports emerged that Republican insiders were discussing the possibility of deal-making to decide the eventual nominee at the Republican National Convention.

"If the leaders of the Republican Party want to destroy the party, they should continue to hold meetings like the one described in the Washington Post this morning," Carson said in a statement. "If this was the beginning of a plan to subvert the will of the voters and replace it with the will of the political elite, I assure you Donald Trump will not be the only one leaving the party."

It's the first time Carson has suggested the possibility of bucking the GOP -- though he has previously stood with Trump in pressuring the party to meet demands, including on debate structure.

Read More