Trump Suggests He May Skip GOP Primary Debates

Topline

Former President Donald Trump indicated Tuesday he might not attend Republican primary debates slated to begin this summer because of his early polling lead and ongoing feuds with mainstream media outlets and GOP leadership, setting up what could be historic absences for such a consequential contest.

Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump gestures during the Republican Presidential Debate at … [+] the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, on September 16, 2015. (Photo credit should read FREDERIC J BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

AFP via Getty Images

Key Facts

Trump’s main gripe appears to be with Republican Party leadership, which he claimed in a Truth Social post announced plans for two debates recently without “the approval of the Trump Campaign.”

The former president also questioned why he should open himself “to being libeled and abused” in debates overseen by “hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors”—even though the GOP is reportedly considering hard-right outlets like Newsmax as debate broadcasters, in addition to more established outlets like NBC and CBS.

Trump blasted the party for choosing to hold the second primary debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library since its chairman, former Reagan chief of staff Fred Ryan, is publisher of the Washington Post (the Reagan Library is a regular GOP debate site, hosting events in the 2016, 2012 and 2008 primary cycles).

Trump also cited his “seemingly insurmountable” polling lead as a reason to skip the debates.

Big Number

51%. That’s how much support Trump has on average in Republican primary polls, according to FiveThirtyEight. His standing is well ahead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who hasn’t launched his campaign yet but is second at 24.5%. Former Vice President Mike Pence—who also hasn’t formally entered the race—is third with 5.5% support.

Surprising Fact

Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel announced in February that all Republican candidates must sign a loyalty pledge to support the eventual 2024 nominee in order to participate in debates. Trump was notably the only candidate at the first 2016 GOP primary debate to refuse a pledge to support a nominee other than himself. McDaniel has promised the party will remain neutral in the 2024 primaries.

What To Watch For

The first debate is set for August in Milwaukee and will air on Fox News. The second debate will be held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California, but a date and broadcaster have not been announced.

Key Background

Trump’s absence for an entire debate cycle—or even a string of debates—would be unprecedented given his high-profile competitors. Multiple former governors plan to run against Trump, while an expected 2024 announcement from DeSantis looms. But Trump has had issues with debate organizers before. In 2016, he skipped one of the 12 Republican primary debates because of a feud with Fox News fueled partly by tough questions at an earlier debate by former Fox personality Megyn Kelly—a feud that has once again ignited ahead of the 2024 primaries over the network’s ostensible promotion of DeSantis. In 2020, one of the three scheduled general election debates was canceled after Trump refused to participate in a virtual debate due to his Covid-19 diagnosis. Trump in 2019 threatened to boycott 2020 general election debates, but abruptly reversed course after President Joe Biden won the Democratic nomination, instead demanding more than the three scheduled debates in an apparent attempt to portray Biden as a low-energy candidate and capitalize on Biden’s habit of gaffes. The Commission on Presidential Debates did not expand the schedule in response to Trump’s request.