Former President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday he might not attend Republican primary debates slated to begin this summer because of his early polling lead and ongoing feuds with mainstream media outlets and GOP leadership, setting up what could be historic absences for such a consequential contest.
Trump’s main gripe appears to be with Republican Party leadership, which he claimed in a Truth Social post had the temerity to announce plans for two debates recently without “the approval of the Trump Campaign.”
The former president also questioned why he should open himself “to being libeled and abused” in debates overseen by “hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors”—even though the GOP is reportedly considering hard-right outlets like Newsmax as debate broadcasters, in addition to more established outlets like NBC and CBS.
Trump blasted the party for choosing to hold the second primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library since its chairman, former Reagan chief of staff Fred Ryan, is publisher of the Washington Post (the Reagan Library is a regular GOP debate site, hosting events in the 2016, 2012 and 2008 primary cycles).
Trump also cited his “seemingly insurmountable” polling lead as a reason to skip the debates.
51%. That’s how much support Trump has on average in Republican primary polls, according to FiveThirtyEight. His standing is well ahead that of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who hasn’t launched his campaign yet but is in second place at 24.5%. Former Vice President Mike Pence—who also hasn’t formally entered the race—is third with 5.5% support.
The first debate is set for August in Milwaukee and will air on Fox News. The second debate will be held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, but a date and broadcaster have not been announced.
Trump’s absence for an entire debate cycle—or even a string of debates—would be unprecedented, given his high-profile competitors. Multiple former governors plan to run against Trump, while an expected 2024 announcement from DeSantis looms. But Trump has had issues with debate organizers before.
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