In an interview with WHCInsider.com before the first debate featuring GOP presidential candidates in the 2016 election, the Republican National Committee’s Sean Spicer gave a preview of what to expect at the largest debate in primary history when 17 candidates take the stage.

Spicer also commented on the timing of the Democrat’s debate announcement today. “They’ve got a lot of concern within their own party…with what the DNC has done to help Hillary Clinton out. I think they tried to bury this today for obvious reasons.”

When asked about the additional debate added for candidates who didn’t make the cut for the main debate: “It wasn’t our decision. We had talked to both Fox and CNN about how to be really inclusive in both of the early debates because of the historic number of quality candidates that we had in our field. Fox and CNN said they were going to try and figure out a way to do that.”

Spicer noted that close to 5,000 people will be in attendance, “probably the largest debate audience in history. Folks from Ohio, Republican supporters, friends and family of the candidates. It’s kind of a cross-section.” Audience members will not be allowed to ask questions.