by Sharon Rondeau
(Aug. 20, 2023) — In an interview with RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel on today’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” neither host Maria Bartiromo nor McDaniel acknowledged mainstream reports indicating that 45th President of the United States has other plans for Wednesday night’s first Republican presidential primary debate.
Much-touted by Fox, which is moderating the debate in Milwaukee, various FNC hosts have been opining that Trump should participate, a move he has consistently spurned in comments on his TruthSocial account in recent weeks.
The New York Times first reported Friday that instead of attending, Trump would interview with former FNC host Tucker Carlson. Since his abrupt firing by Fox in late April, Carlson’s video releases on “X,” formerly Twitter, garner tens of millions of views.
McDaniel indicated to Bartiromo she continues to “hope” Trump, who leads all primary contenders by considerable double digits, will appear on the debate stage so that Americans can hear from all qualified candidates.
Eligibility criteria to appear on the stage Wednesday night include a minimum 1% support from three recent RNC-recognized national polls or 1% in two national polls and 1% in polls from two of the four early-primary states of Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina. A candidate must also have a minimum of 40,000 donors nationally and at least 200 donors from 20 states. Lastly, candidates wishing to debate must sign a “loyalty pledge” to support the eventual Republican presidential nominee.
Trump’s declination to participate in the debate was already signaled earlier this month when he said he would not “sign the pledge.”
Building on The Times‘s story, The Washington Post reported Saturday that releasing a pre-recorded interview with Carlson is Trump’s intent for Wednesday evening.
In a reproduction of a CNN article, CBS News reported Sunday that Trump “is expected to sit for an interview with former Fox News Host Tucker Carlson,” with CNN citing “multiple sources familiar with his plans.”
On Friday, Trump asked the question on TruthSocial, “Why would I debate?”
“Many people are asking whether or not I will be doing the DEBATES?” he wrote. “ALL AMERICANS have been clamoring for a President of extremely High Intelligence. As everyone is aware, my Poll numbers, over a ‘wonderful’ field of Republican candidates, are extraordinary. In fact, I am leading the runner up, whoever that may now be, by more than 50 Points. Reagan didn’t do it, and neither did others. People know my Record, one of the BEST EVER, so why would I Debate? I’M YOUR MAN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
According to NBC News on Friday, “Former President Donald Trump has made up his mind not to attend the first GOP debate next week, according to two sources familiar with his thinking, and is seeking a sit-down interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson as a means of counter-programming the event.”
Comment from a source of Carlson’s reportedly yielded “nothing is firmly set with Trump and Carlson.”
According to NBC, the Trump campaign has not confirmed Trump’s plans.
On Sunday morning Trump did not comment on the debate, but rather, posted the results of a CBS News poll showing him leading his closest contender, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, by a margin of 62-16.
Update, 8:14 p.m. EDT: Approximately two hours ago Trump confirmed he will not be attending Wednesday’s debate. Expressing the word in the plural, he likely was referring to the second RNC debate scheduled for September 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, CA to be broadcast by Fox Business.
Smart move by Trump. He will get a larger audience than the debate. He also has the entire program to himself to make his points. Sounds smart to me.