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The former president’s choice to forego the initial debate comes as a significant affront to both the Republican National Committee and Fox News, the host of the event.
Over the past weeks, Donald J. Trump has been seeking opinions from aides, associates, and rally attendees on whether he should partake in the debate. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that instead of participating, he has opted for an interview with Tucker Carlson.
Former President Donald J. Trump has decided to overshadow the first Republican primary debate by engaging in an online interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, as informed by multiple individuals briefed on the subject.
Within the past 24 hours, Mr. Trump has reached a firm decision to skip the debate in Milwaukee, as shared by two sources who are knowledgeable about the matter. Known for his unpredictable nature, Mr. Trump left room for a potential change of mind through an ambiguously-worded post on his website, Truth Social, last Thursday.
In his statement, he highlighted his strong lead in the polls compared to his rivals and questioned the necessity of participating in a debate: ‘Reagan didn’t do it, and neither did others. People know my record, one of the best ever, so why would I debate?’
For several weeks, the former president has been seeking input from aides, associates, and rally attendees on what course of action he should take. Until earlier this week, Mr. Trump had given the impression that he might surprise everyone by making a last-minute appearance on Wednesday.
However, those close to him have been expressing for months that he is unlikely to participate in the first two Republican debates, both of which are sponsored by the Republican National Committee.
Mr. Trump’s decision to forgo the initial debate of the presidential nominating contest is a significant blow to both the R.N.C. and Fox News, who are hosting the event. While the exact timing of the interview with Mr. Carlson remains unclear, proceeding with it as planned would be seen as a direct act of opposition during the debate night.
Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the R.N.C., has privately urged Mr. Trump to attend the debate, even going as far as visiting his private club in Bedminster, N.J., last month to persuade him in person. Additionally, Fox News finds itself engaged in a public dispute not just with Mr. Trump, but also with Mr. Carlson, who, despite having his show taken off the air, is still under contract and being compensated by Fox.
After Mr. Carlson aired a series of videos on X, previously known as Twitter, Fox sent him a cease-and-desist letter. Multiple news organizations have previously reported on the Trump campaign’s conversations with Mr. Carlson and the potential counterprogramming.
Requests for comments from the Trump campaign, the R.N.C., and Fox News have not been immediately answered by their respective spokespersons. Mr. Carlson himself has also not responded to requests for comment.
Executives and on-air personalities from Fox News have been publicly and privately lobbying the former president to take part in the debate. However, Mr. Trump has been openly critical of Fox and has privately expressed his animosity towards Rupert Murdoch, the network’s owner.
Nevertheless, Mr. Trump has also given senior executives and anchors from Fox the impression that he is receptive to and seriously considering their invitations.
Earlier this month, Mr. Trump held a dinner meeting with Jay Wallace, the president of Fox News, and Suzanne Scott, the network’s CEO. They visited Bedminster with the hope of convincing Mr. Trump to attend the debate. According to two individuals familiar with the dinner, they left believing there was a reasonable chance that he would appear.
Mr. Trump’s decision to skip the debate comes in the wake of his fourth criminal indictment. The most recent indictment was filed by the district attorney in Fulton County, Ga., who accused Mr. Trump of participating in a criminal conspiracy to undermine the transfer of power after he lost the 2020 election in the state.