Donald Trump has managed to dominate a televised Republican debate without even being there.

The billionaire tycoon skipped the event in Iowa to hold his own rally a few kilometres away.

He pulled out of the debate earlier this week, amid a months-long feud with Fox News anchor and debate moderator Megyn Kelly. As the candidates took to the stage in Iowa last night, Kelly got straight to the point:

Trump's rivals were initially in playful form in his absence. Ted Cruz opened proceedings with his best impression of the controversial tycoon:

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who has frequently been targeted by Mr Trump, even professed to missing him, while Marco Rubio acknowledged his entertainment value: 

Trump himself was staging a rally at the same time in Des Moines, which his campaign said was to raise money for military veterans.

And he made sure to take a swipe at the debate and its host:

Last night's debate comes just four days before the Iowa caucuses kick off the 2016 nominating contest.

With the debate free of the usual personal swipes characteristic of the Trump campaign, the candidates clashed over immigration and foreign policy.

But with most of the US media coverage focusing on the fact that Trump was not there, his boycott may prove to be the gamble that pays off.