Former President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will be skipping the first Republican presidential primary debate, as well as others that have been scheduled. Trump made the announcement on his social media site, stating that the public already knows who he is and what a successful presidency he had. He also criticized Fox, the host of the debate, calling it a “hostile network” that he believes will not treat him fairly.
Trump had been considering various alternatives to participating in the debate, including sitting for an interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson or attending the debate but sitting in the audience and offering live commentary on his Truth Social site. He had also discussed calling into different networks or holding a rally instead.
This decision marks another chapter in Trump’s ongoing feud with Fox, which was once a staunch defender but is now perceived to be more favorable to his leading rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Fox executives and hosts had lobbied Trump to attend the debate, but he remained steadfast in his decision.
His rivals, on the other hand, were goading him to appear and preparing for the possibility, concerned that a no-show might make them appear like second-tier candidates. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie accused Trump of lacking “the guts to show up” and called him “a coward” if he doesn’t participate. A super PAC supporting DeSantis also released an ad criticizing Trump’s absence.
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Trump pushed back on these attacks, stating that he saw little benefit in participating when he’s already leading by a wide margin. He 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 candidates.
While Trump’s advisers had insisted that he had yet to make a final decision, it was clear from his public and private statements that he was unlikely to appear. This isn’t the first time Trump has chosen to skip a major GOP debate. During his 2016 campaign, he decided to forgo the final debate and instead held his own campaign event, which drew attention away from his rivals but ultimately resulted in a loss in the Iowa caucuses.
Trump is not the only candidate who will likely be missing Wednesday’s debate. Several lesser-known rivals also appear unlikely to reach the threshold set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to participate. To qualify, candidates must have received contributions from at least 40,000 individual donors and poll at least 1 percent in designated national polls.
The RNC has also established additional requirements, including signing a pledge to support the eventual party nominee and not participating in any non-RNC sanctioned debates for the remainder of the election cycle. They have also pledged not to run as an independent, write-in candidate, or third-party nominee. Former Texas Rep. Will Hurd is the only candidate so far who has definitively stated that he will not sign the pledge because he refuses to support Trump if he becomes the nominee.
In addition to voicing opposition to the loyalty pledge, Trump has suggested that he is opposed to boycotting general election debates hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates. He believes that candidates have an obligation to participate in those debates.
Overall, Trump’s decision to skip the first Republican presidential primary debate has sparked controversy and criticism from his rivals. It remains to be seen how this absence will impact the dynamics of the debate and the trajectory of the race.
