Former President Donald Trump made the decision to skip the initial GOP debate on Wednesday night and instead opted for an exclusive interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The interview was pre-recorded and made available on X, a social media platform, just five minutes before the start of the debate. While the interview did not generate much news, Trump explained his reasons for not participating in the debate. He cited his significant lead in the polls, with some showing him leading by 50 to 60 points, as a reason not to subject himself to unnecessary harassment from other candidates and an unfriendly network.
During the debate, the candidates were asked if they would support Trump as the GOP nominee if he were convicted in any of the four ongoing cases against him. Six candidates, including former Vice President Mike Pence, raised their hands in support, while Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie did not.
By choosing to do an interview with Tucker Carlson on the same night as the debate, Trump intended to slight Fox News, who hosted the debate, as well as the other GOP candidates. Trump’s relationship with Fox News has soured over time, as evidenced by his social media posts. Notably, Fox News canceled Carlson’s show in April after settling a lawsuit related to their 2020 election reporting.
In court documents from Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit against Fox News, it was revealed that Carlson expressed his desire to ignore Trump’s coverage on most nights, stating that he passionately hated him. However, it was Trump who approached Carlson about the possibility of airing an interview on the same night as the debate.
During the interview, Trump shared his thoughts on the 2024 field, suggesting that if President Biden isn’t Democrats’ ultimate candidate, it would result in a free-for-all, and Vice President Kamala Harris wouldn’t necessarily be the nominee. Trump also expressed his view that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whom he referred to as “DeSanctus,” is out of the race.
Additionally, Trump continued to criticize his former vice president, Mike Pence, for refusing to overturn the election results on January 6, 2021, despite Pence lacking the authority to do so. When asked if he believed the nation is heading towards civil war, Trump pointed to the passion and hatred displayed by his supporters on that day. He described the love and unity within the crowd, alongside their simultaneous hatred for what had been done to the country.
The interview with Carlson aired just one day before Trump is expected to turn himself in at a jail in Fulton County, Georgia. He faces charges related to alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in the state. Despite his legal troubles, recent polls indicate that Trump’s lead among likely Republican primary voters continues to grow, with 62% stating they would choose him as their candidate.
Overall, Trump’s decision to skip the debate in favor of an interview with Carlson demonstrates his strategic approach to counterprogramming and his desire to control the narrative surrounding his candidacy.
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