Former President Donald Trump has indicated that he is considering skipping the Republican Party’s first primary debate next month, noting that there is a possibility he will organize an alternative event instead.
Citing his lead in polls and what he described as the hosting network’s bias against him, Trump told Reuters in a telephone interview that he will “possibly not” attend the debate, to be hosted by Fox News on Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“Why would I give them time to make statements? Why would I do that when I’m leading them by 50 points and 60 points,” he said.
Trump called Fox News a “hostile network” and said he saw little merit in debating candidates who are far behind him in polling, like former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
In recent months, Trump’s relationship with the Rupert Murdoch-owned network appears to have turned increasingly sour. He has criticized the outlet for not covering his rallies or live speeches like it used to, downplaying his popularity with potential voters, and promoting the campaign of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
However, Trump said he was entertaining offers to hold a separate event during the scheduled debate or later that same evening.
“We’ve had a lot of offers, whether it’s a rally or whether it’s an interview by somebody else,” he said. “Not to be braggadocious but the debate will not be a very exciting one if I’m not there.”
Trump–Biden Matchup
National polls have consistently shown that Trump continues to remain the GOP’s favorite candidate in the 2024 election. The former commander-in-chief also continues to hold a significant endorsement edge over all other candidates.Meanwhile, Trump has drawn some criticism for suggesting he may skip the debate altogether, including from Christie, who accused the former president of being afraid to join the debate out of fear of losing his lead in the race.
“If Trump doesn’t want to debate then he doesn’t want to be president,” Christie, a former Trump ally who is now one of his fiercest critics, said in a June 26 post on Twitter.