On Sunday, ex-President Donald Trump announced his decision to abstain from “the debates,” suggesting that he probably won’t attend any of the Republican primary debates, including the one planned for this week.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump pointed to his dominating position in the latest polls as one of the reasons for his decision.
“The recent CBS POLL reveals that I’m ahead of other GOP contenders by impressive margins. TRUMP stands at 62%, a whopping 46 Points ahead of DeSantos (whose numbers are plummeting), followed by Ramaswamy at 7%, Pence at 5%, Scott at 3%, Haley and Chris Christie both at 2%, and ‘Aida’ Hutchinson at 1%,” Trump stated.
He further noted, “The public recognizes my achievements, including Energy Autonomy, Robust Borders & Defense, Unprecedented Tax & Regulatory Reductions, Absence of Inflation, and the Most Vibrant Economy ever. HENCE, I WON’T BE TAKING PART IN THE DEBATES!”
The inaugural debate for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination is set for Wednesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Politico reports that Trump’s former Vice President, Mike Pence, remains optimistic that Trump will join the opening RNC debate in Milwaukee.
Earlier in July, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, currently behind Trump in the surveys, asserted his commitment to the upcoming GOP debates, regardless of Trump’s participation.
“I’ll definitely be there,” DeSantis mentioned on Fox News. “I trust every qualified individual will make an appearance.”
Other contenders, like businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, expressed indifference to Trump’s decision. In a conversation with a Semafor journalist, he said, “It’s an opportunity for me to present myself to the nation. Whatever choice he [Trump] makes doesn’t bother me. Whether he joins or not, I’m at ease.”
