AP Photo Chris Matthews: 'Who’s going to watch a debate between the two Cuban guys?'

With the news that Donald Trump would be bowing out of Thursday night's Fox News debate, MSNBC's Chris Matthews seemed dubious at best over the network's ratings without Trump.

“Who’s going to watch a debate between the two Cuban guys?" he asked during Tuesday night's episode of "Hardball." "Who’s gonna watch a debate between Rubio, Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz? Who cares?”


Turning to Robert Costa, an MSNBC contributor and Washington Post reporter, Matthews pressed the issue.

“Because, you know they’ve been sort of fighting in this little interleague fight over who’s the hawkish guy, or whatever. Who is going to watch that Thursday night? Maybe I’m building it up too much."

Matthews also speculated last November that he was not sure either candidate could be considered Hispanic, despite their Cuban-American heritage.