In a departure from the traditional debate stage, former President Donald Trump opted for an online interview filled with election lies, attacks on his rivals, and praises for the crowd of supporters that stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trump, known for his dismissive attitude toward democratic norms, justified his absence from the first Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee by citing his superior poll numbers. Instead, he engaged in a pre-recorded interview with Tucker Carlson, formerly of Fox News, where he sought to establish his own relevance while belittling everyone else.
One particularly inflammatory moment occurred when Carlson hinted that political opponents might try to assassinate Trump. Rather than disavowing or dismissing the suggestion, Trump seemed to entertain the idea, describing his opponents as “savage animals” who would stop at nothing. This comment is especially troubling considering Trump’s defense, praise, and downplaying of the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. He repeated his admiration for the supporters he addressed on the morning of January 6, describing it as a moment of love and unity, despite the violence that unfolded shortly after at the Capitol.
The night before the interview was released, Trump spoke at a fundraiser for the Patriot Freedom Project, a group supporting the defendants charged for their involvement in the insurrection. The interview with Carlson was strategically posted on “X,” formerly known as Twitter, just five minutes before the start of the debate.
During the interview, Trump wasted no time attacking some of his rivals, calling former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson “nasty” and dismissing him, along with former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, as unworthy of sharing the debate stage. Both Hutchinson and Christie had been critical of Trump and expressed doubts about his candidacy. Trump’s ongoing feud with Fox News, the host of the debate, also played a role in his decision to skip the event. He questioned the idea of subjecting himself to harassment from individuals he believed had no business running for president and questioned the network’s supposed lack of friendliness towards him.
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Trump’s third run for the White House is rooted in aligning himself with those who embrace extreme views and conspiracies while peddling baseless claims about the 2020 election. By choosing to appear on Carlson’s show instead of debating, Trump further solidified this positioning. Carlson himself has spread misinformation about various topics, including the January 6 insurrection and the war in Ukraine. During the interview, Trump expressed regret over Carlson’s departure from Fox News, claiming that it was a terrible move to get rid of him.
Despite facing legal challenges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results, mishandling classified documents, and the hush money payments made to conceal extramarital affairs, Trump remains dominant within the Republican Party. His strong standing among Republicans is evident in poll numbers, which have shown consistent support. Even before his decision to skip the debate, several Fox News personalities and executives encouraged him to participate. However, Trump’s grievances with the network, which he believes offers unfair coverage, motivated him to forego the event. This decision also serves as a message to Fox News, who fired Carlson earlier this year, shortly after agreeing to pay a substantial sum to Dominion Voting Systems in a defamation lawsuit.
It remains unclear if Trump will skip every Republican debate, as his team has not provided any clarification on the matter. He has voiced dissatisfaction with the venue for the second debate in September, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, due to the association of the foundation’s board of trustees chairman with the publisher and CEO of The Washington Post. Although many candidates on the debate stage have embraced Trump’s policies, including his closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Democrats have criticized the Republican Party for following Trump’s lead and pushing the party to extreme positions.
While Trump’s absence from the debate might initially suggest a diminished influence, his extreme agenda continues to shape the party’s discourse. Whether he is physically present on the stage or not, his ideas and approach continue to shape the Republican Party’s positioning and policies.
