Trump Says He Won't Participate in Republican Presidential Debates
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Former President Donald Trump announced Sunday that he won't participate in 2024 Republican primary debates.
The Details: Trump does plan to sit down for an online interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson; it will be released online at the same time as the first debate, which is scheduled for Wednesday. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have also qualified.
Key Quote: “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,” Mr. Trump wrote late Sunday. “I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”
For Context:: Trump is currently leading in the opinion polls; a CBS News (Lean Left bias) poll suggests he's the preferred candidate for 62% of Republican voters; DeSantis is second at 16%. The Republican National Committee has asked candidates to sign a loyalty pledge, saying they will support the eventual Republican nominee. Trump hasn't signed it.
How the Media Covered it: The Washington Times (Lean Right bias) noted that Trump has had disagreements with Fox News, claiming that the network is promoting alternative candidates. CNN (Lean Left bias) mentioned a Trump advisor who said the former president could still choose to participate in a later primary debate.
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Right
Trump says he doesn’t plan to do primary debates, period; remains leader in Iowa poll
Former President Donald Trump is signaling he might not do any primary election debates — plural — after he skips the first debate on Wednesday in Milwaukee.
Mr. Trump, writing on Truth Social, pointed to his “legendary” poll numbers, including a nearly 50-point lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Republican considered his most significant threat in the 2024 presidential primary.
“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...
From the Center
Trump says he won't take part in Republican debates
Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said he would skip the upcoming Republican primary debates, citing his large lead in opinion polls as evidence that he was already well-known and liked by voters ahead of the 2024 election.
Trump has for months suggested he would likely pass on Wednesday night's debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, arguing that it did not make sense to give his Republican rivals a chance to attack him given his sizeable lead in national polls.
On Sunday, a CBS poll showed he was the preferred candidate...
From the Left
Trump confirms he will not participate in first GOP debate, teases possibly skipping more
Former President Donald Trump confirmed Sunday he will not participate in the first Republican primary debate this week.
Stating that the public already “knows who I am,” Trump wrote on his social media platform: “I will therefore not be doing the debates!”
It was not immediately clear whether Trump meant he will sit out all currently scheduled debates – there is a second GOP primary debate set for September – or any and all future debates.
A Trump adviser told CNN that the former president could still decide to participate in a later...
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