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Donald Trump, the leading candidate in the Republican presidential race, has decided to boycott the upcoming debates, defying the tradition followed by top contenders. The first Republican debate for the 2024 election is scheduled to take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Wednesday night.
Despite facing federal and state criminal charges, Trump has been questioning the necessity of his participation in the debates in recent weeks. In a social media post, he firmly stated that he will not engage in the debates with his Republican rivals for the White House.
“The public is well aware of my successful presidency, which included achievements like energy independence, strong borders and military, substantial tax and regulation cuts, minimal inflation, and the strongest economy in history,” Trump wrote. “Thus, I have decided not to participate in the debates,” he added.
Trump’s decision comes after a CBS poll revealed that 62% of likely Republican primary voters would support him, giving him a significant lead over other candidates. Florida governor Ron DeSantis, the second most popular candidate, only obtained 16% support in the survey. The remaining seven candidates have single-digit support.
The New York Times reported that Trump plans to skip the first debate and instead have an interview with Tucker Carlson, a conservative television host. Although this plan has not been confirmed, it would be a blow to Fox News, the host of the debate.
All of Trump’s main rivals, including DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pence, are expected to participate in the debate. DeSantis expressed his excitement about the event, emphasizing that it provides an opportunity to directly engage with voters.
DeSantis indirectly referred to Trump and his claims of election fraud, expressing his hope that the focus would be on the future of the country. Pence criticized Trump for his absence, stating that all qualified candidates should take part in the debate to address important issues and create clear distinctions among themselves.
To participate in the debate, Republican candidates had to meet certain donor and polling requirements and commit to supporting the party’s nominee in the general election.
Wisconsin has been a critical swing state in the past two general elections. Trump won it narrowly in 2016 but lost to Joe Biden by a slim margin in 2020. Biden’s campaign spokesperson highlighted Trump’s avoidance of Milwaukee, attributing it to his failed leadership in the state.
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