Donald Trump confirmed that he will skip the Republican primary debates

The Republican primary debates in the US will be without Donald Trump. The former US president confirmed on Sunday August 20 on his social network Truth Social that he will skip the first meeting scheduled for Wednesday.

“The public knows who I am and what a successful president I served, with energy independence, strong borders and military, massive tax and regulatory cuts, zero inflation, steeped in history and more.”He wrote.

“I will not participate in debates! », he says he benefits from 62% of voting intentions in Republican primaries, or 46 points more than his arch-rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Ron DeSantis “Struck like a sick bird”He made fun of the former president.

Fox, a “hostile network”

The former president and “Grand Old Party” favorite said for months that he didn’t see the point of joining his Republican rivals on stage during the first debate in Milwaukee, Wis., on Wednesday. Competition for the party’s nomination.

“Why should I let the 1 or the 2% and the 0% keep asking me questions all night? » He said in a June interview with Fox News host Brett Baier, who will serve as moderator. Mr Trump has repeatedly criticized Fox, the host of the event, and emphasized that “Hostile Network” He says who will not treat him fairly.

Donald Trump discussed a number of counter-programming options in Wednesday’s debate, including an interview with Tucker Carlson, the star former host of Fox News, that the former aired on Twitter today. The The New York Times It was reported on Saturday that an interview scheduled to air on Wednesday during the debate had already been recorded. “We can neither confirm nor deny – stay tuned” Mr. Trump’s spokesman Steven Cheung said.

Five months before the primaries to choose the Republican nominee for the 2024 US presidential election begin, Donald Trump is drawing stronger support than ever from his base. But his legal setbacks cast a shadow over his bid to return to the White House. Storm millionaire, who condemned a “Witch Hunt”Surrounded by lawsuits: He has been accused of conspiring against US companies in connection with his actions to change the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, negligent management of confidential files and falsifying accounting documents after buying the X movie The Silence actress.

“coward”

Seven candidates have met the criteria to participate in the first meeting on Wednesday. In addition to Ron DeSantis, there will be former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence, his former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott and businessman Vivek Ramasamy. Republican officials have given Donald Trump until Monday to announce a decision on his possible participation.

The former president’s rivals fear that not participating in the debates will make them look like second-rate candidates and not allow them to compete directly with him to change the course of the polls. Chris Christie, one of the few Republican candidates to directly tackle Donald Trump, accused him of missing out. “to show courage”conducts as “coward” If he does not participate in discussions.

However, relatives of the billionaire fear that his rivals will take advantage of his absence and start a movement. In 2016, after missing a debate, Donald Trump lost Iowa in the Republican primary to Texas Senator Ted Cruz.

As a condition for participation in the main examination, the candidates have to give an undertaking “To respect the will of the voters in primaries” And support the winner. But it is not clear how to implement this rule. Donald Trump has already announced that he will not sign the pledge.