Story highlights The two Republican presidential contenders said they decided to attend Trump's event to help veterans' groups and because they had nothing else planned

Trump announced on Wednesday that he will host an event at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, to benefit wounded veterans.

(CNN) Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum will attend Donald Trump's event to benefit veterans on Thursday night after participating in Fox News' Republican presidential undercard debate.

Appearing Thursday on CNN in separate interviews, the two Republican presidential contenders said they decided to attend Trump's event to help veterans' groups and because they had nothing else planned.

"I'm delighted to join with Donald Trump in an effort to salute veterans," Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor, told CNN's Wolf Blitzer on Thursday. "I didn't have anything going on at 8:00 tonight. I'll be done, so I figured, 'Why not? Let's show the veterans our support.'"

The candidate tweeted confirmation earlier, saying, "After the #GOPDebate I'll join @realDonaldTrump in Des Moines to support our vets who've been abandoned by @BarackObama. Hope you join us!"

After the #GOPDebate I'll join @realDonaldTrump in Des Moines to support our vets who've been abandoned by @BarackObama. Hope you join us! — Gov. Mike Huckabee (@GovMikeHuckabee) January 28, 2016

Santorum, a former senator from Pennyslvania, told CNN's Brooke Baldwin on "CNN Newsroom" later Thursday that he "didn't have anything planned at that time" and would participate in any event aimed at benefiting veterans.

Read More