Former President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he will not be participating in the upcoming Republican presidential primary debate, as well as other debates. Trump stated on his social media site that he believes the public is already aware of his success as president, therefore he sees no need to participate in the debates. It is unclear at this time if he plans to boycott all primary debates or just the currently scheduled ones. Trump has previously expressed his disinterest in joining his GOP rivals on stage, citing his large lead in the race. He has also criticized the host network, Fox, calling it a “hostile network” that he believes will not treat him fairly.
Instead of participating in the debates, Trump had been considering other options such as doing an interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson or offering live commentary on his Truth Social site. He had also discussed the possibility of holding a rally or calling into different networks to draw viewers away from the debate. This decision marks another chapter in Trump’s ongoing feud with Fox, which was once supportive of him but is now perceived to be more favorable to his leading rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Meanwhile, Trump’s rivals have been urging him to appear in the debate, concerned that his absence may make them appear less significant. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie has accused Trump of lacking the courage to show up, while a super PAC supporting DeSantis released an ad questioning the strength of a nominee who refuses to debate.
Despite the pressure from his rivals, Trump believes there is little benefit in participating when he is already leading the race by a wide margin. He has also stated that he will not sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee if he loses the nomination, citing his disagreement with certain potential candidates. Trump’s advisers had previously stated that he had not made a final decision on participating in the debates, but it was clear from his public and private statements that he was unlikely to appear.
This is not the first time Trump has chosen to skip a major debate. During his 2016 campaign, he decided to hold his own campaign event instead of attending the final GOP primary face-off before the Iowa caucuses. He went on to lose the caucuses to Sen. Ted Cruz. In 2020, Trump withdrew from the second general election debate with now-President Joe Biden after the Commission on Presidential Debates sought to make it virtual due to Trump testing positive for COVID-19.
It is not just Trump who will likely be missing Wednesday’s debate. Several lesser-known candidates are unlikely to meet the Republican National Committee’s qualifications to participate. Qualifications include receiving contributions from at least 40,000 individual donors and polling at least 1% in designated national polls. Candidates must also sign a pledge to support the eventual party nominee and agree not to participate in any non-RNC sanctioned debates. Some candidates, such as Christie, have expressed their opposition to these requirements but are willing to sign in order to be on the stage.
In addition to his opposition to the loyalty pledge, Trump has suggested that he does not oppose boycotting general election debates hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates. However, he believes there is an obligation to participate in those debates.
In conclusion, Trump has made it clear that he will not be participating in the upcoming Republican presidential primary debate or other debates, citing his success as president and his belief that the network hosting the debate will not treat him fairly. His rivals have been urging him to appear, but Trump sees little benefit in participating when he is already leading in the polls. It is unclear at this time if he plans to boycott all primary debates or just the currently scheduled ones.
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