Former President Donald Trump has announced that he will not participate in any Republican primary debates.
The Democratic Party also has no plans to hold a debate, meaning both party’s frontrunners will not be appearing in primary debates.
Trump will not only skip this Wednesday’s debate on Fox News but sit down for an interview with the network’s former host Tucker Carlson during that time. The move will assuredly pull eyes and news coverage from the debate.
Both Trump and Carlson have been at odds with Fox News.
The network abruptly pulled Carlson off the air in April. Two months later, they sent him a cease and desist letter over his internet-based show, “Tucker on Twitter” — which he has not complied with.
On Sunday, Trump went even further, announcing that he would not participate in future debates either.
In a post to Truth Social, Trump wrote:
New CBS POLL, just out, has me leading the field by “legendary” numbers. TRUMP 62%, 46 Points above DeSanctimonious (who is crashing like an ailing bird!), Ramaswamy 7%, Pence 5%, Scott 3%, Haley 2%, Sloppy Chris Christie 2%, “Aida” Hutchinson 1%. The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!
Earlier in the week, the former president wrote that his lead over Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is so prominent that participation would be beneath him.
“Many people are asking whether or not I will be doing the DEBATES? ALL AMERICANS have been clamoring for a President of extremely High Intelligence,” Trump wrote. “As everyone is aware, my Poll numbers, over a ‘wonderful’ field of Republican candidates, are extraordinary. In fact, I am leading the runner up, whoever that may now be, by more than 50 Points. Reagan didn’t do it, and neither did others. People know my Record, one of the BEST EVER, so why would I Debate? I’M YOUR MAN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Speaking to Fox News host Bret Baier in June, Trump had asked, “Why would I allow people at 1 or 2% and 0% to be hitting me with questions all night?”
Trump has also declined to sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee if it is not him.
