Trump has just posted on Truth Social that he’s rejecting the Republican Primary debates that are being scheduled for this fall.
Trump writes “I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them. When you’re leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the “questions,” why subject yourself to being libeled and abused?”
Trump continues, “Also, the Second Debate is being held at the Reagan Library, the Chairman of which is, amazingly, Fred Ryan, Publisher of The Washington Post. NO!”
Trump has participated in many a debate in his short political career so it surprises me that suddenly he doesn’t want to debate. Some are suggesting that he’s scared to debate. Maybe, but that hasn’t been his history.
He does write as if he believes he’s the king of all candidates, saying nobody got his approval to hold the debate. But they don’t need his approval – the debates are set up and run by the RNC.
I think a likelier rationale is that Trump is trying to leverage his candidacy to have more influence over the debates. Trump will suggest that he’s not showing up in order to get some changes he wants to see happen during the debate…or something to that end.
Whatever the case, I fully expect to see Trump on the debate stage when August gets here. I’d be very surprised if he doesn’t show up…