Staff Reports
President Donald Trump made a bold announcement on Truth Social Sunday, confirming that he would not be participating in the GOP presidential primary debate. In typical Trump fashion, he emphasized his own success and popularity, stating, “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!” Trump’s decision to skip the debates may not come as a surprise to some, as he has hinted in the past that he might sit out the others as well.
Trump Reveals Reason for Skipping GOP Presidential Debate: 'The Public Knows Who I Am'https://t.co/GE3SpxwhLS
— The Daily Fetched (@DailyFetched) August 21, 2023
One of the reasons behind Trump’s decision not to participate in the debates is his commanding lead over other Republican candidates. According to RealClearPolitics, Trump is ahead by a whopping 41 percentage points, with his support standing at 55.5%. With such a significant lead, Trump argues that he has little to gain from the debates. Critics, however, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have used Trump’s stance as ammunition, suggesting that a nominee who is too weak to debate cannot be trusted.
Today is was announced that President Trump is skipping the first GOP Presidential debate on August 23 in Wisconsin that is hosted by Fox News. Instead, he will be doing a live interview online with @TuckerCarlson who was recently fired by Fox News😂.
Today before the news… pic.twitter.com/jk9jtwbHZ5
— Laura Loomer (@LauraLoomer) August 18, 2023
Furthermore, Trump’s refusal to sign the loyalty pledge demanded by the Republican National Committee (RNC) may have also played a role in his decision. In order to qualify for the debates, each candidate was required to pledge their support to the eventual nominee. Trump’s refusal to do so sets him apart from the rest of the field and demonstrates his independent thinking.
In place of attending the debate, Trump has opted for an interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which has already been recorded and will air at the same time as the debate. This decision has fueled speculation and drawn attention to Trump’s absence from the stage. Regardless of the backlash and criticism, Trump remains firm in his belief that participating in the debates is unnecessary and that his record speaks for itself.
