Former US President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will not be participating in the first Republican primary debate this week. Trump cited his legendary lead in the polls and the fact that the public already knows who he is as reasons for his decision. He also took a jab at his rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, calling him DeSanctimonious and claiming that he is crashing like an ailing bird.
In a post on the platform Truth Social, Trump referred to a new CBS poll that showed him leading the field by legendary numbers, with 62% support. He listed the other candidates and their respective percentages, emphasizing his own accomplishments during his presidency. Trump highlighted achievements such as energy independence, strong borders, a strong military, substantial tax and regulation cuts, and a robust economy, among other things. Based on his lead in the polls and his belief that the public already knows about his successful presidency, Trump firmly declared, I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!
According to CNN, a Trump advisor mentioned that the former president could still decide to participate in a later primary debate, despite his earlier announcement. Trump has expressed his reluctance to debate at the Reagan Library, which is the location of the second debate, and has privately complained about never being invited to speak at the venue. He partly attributed this to Fred Ryan, the chairman of the board of trustees, who previously served as the chief executive officer of the Washington Post.
Prior to Trump’s announcement, RNC chair Ronna McDaniel expressed her hope that he would be on the debate stage in Milwaukee. She emphasized the importance of the American people hearing from all the candidates. McDaniel and David Bossie, who is responsible for the RNC debate committee, recently visited Trump to encourage his participation. However, CNN reports that Trump remained noncommittal during the meeting.
As the news unfolds, it remains to be seen if Trump will ultimately decide to participate in any of the primary debates. The decision not to participate in the first debate could have significant implications for the Republican primary race, as the absence of the former president may create an opportunity for other candidates to gain more visibility and support.
