Updated

Syndicated columnist Charles Krauthammer told viewers Friday on “Special Report with Bret Baier” that Ben Carson’s endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was carefully and strategically timed to follow Thursday’s primetime debate.

“Look at how interesting and how pointed was the timing of this. Trump planned it for the morning after the debate,” Krauthammer said. “He’s always been able to steal the thunder of whatever story’s coming out of the debate.”

Krauthammer said the endorsement was “insurance” if Trump had a bad night – but in fact, the Trump campaign did not have to worry.

“Trump didn’t have a bad debate. There was no debate the night before,” Krauthammer said, “His opponents had no idea what to do, and they hung back.”

Krauthammer said this may have been a misstep on the part of Trump’s opponents, who lost a crucial opportunity to challenge the front runner.

“That could be the last chance for challenging him in that kind of a forum. [Trump] escaped completely unscathed,” Krauthammer said.