Staff Reports
In a bold move, former President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that he will not be participating in the upcoming GOP primary debate. Trump, always one for flair, used his trademark nicknames to refer to his opponents, calling Governor Ron DeSantis ” DeSanctimonious,” former Governor Chris Christie “Sloppy,” and former Governor Asa Hutchinson “Aida.” Trump’s decision to skip the debate comes as no surprise considering his commanding lead in the polls and the recent pile-up of indictments.
Trump Touts Strong Poll Numbers, 'I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!' https://t.co/2l48dC2kn2
— RedState (@RedState) August 21, 2023
While it remains unclear if Trump’s decision applies to all future debates or just the ones currently scheduled, it is evident that he is not keen on debating at the Reagan Library, blaming the chairman of the board of trustees, Fred Ryan, for not being invited to speak there. Despite Republican officials’ efforts to convince Trump otherwise, including a visit to his New Jersey home by RNC chair Ronna McDaniel and David Bossie, Trump remains firm in his decision.
Surprise, surprise… the guy who is out on bail from four jurisdictions and can’t defend his reprehensible conduct, is running scared and hiding from the debate stage.
Trump – certified loser, verified coward. https://t.co/plGjaBngVP
— Chris Christie (@GovChristie) August 18, 2023
Critics like Chris Christie may attack Trump for not appearing on the debate stage, but it’s hard to argue with his reasoning. With such a commanding lead in the polls, Trump has little to gain by engaging with his competitors at this point. Furthermore, by not participating, the other candidates will have increased exposure and the viewership for the debate may be higher. In the end, it seems like Trump is making a strategic move by skipping the debate.
