Trump further hints non-presence on GOP debate stage: ‘Let them debate’
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (FLV) – Former President Donald Trump encouraged Republican presidential candidates to participate in the upcoming August debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
“Let them debate so I can see who I MIGHT consider for Vice President,” he taunted on social media.
The comments came as Trump repeatedly hinted that he does not plan on taking part in the primary debates.
“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,” he said in April. “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?”
The rumor about Trump not participating in the debate was reaffirmed by senior campaign advisor Jason Miller on an interview with The Hill.
“He’s up by 30, 40, and even new polling shows he’s up by almost 50 percent in certain places,” Miller said.
“It really wouldn’t make much sense for him to go and debate right now with a bunch of folks who are down at three, four and five percent. Even [Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis], who’s the second-place candidate in the race currently, is at least 20, 30 or 40 points behind.”
DeSantis responded to the Trump campaign comments by arguing that it’s wrong for the former president to assume he is “entitled” to the nomination.
“You have got to earn the nomination and doing things like The Family Leader event in Iowa, doing things like these debates — they’re important parts of the process,” DeSantis said. “Every candidate needs to be put to the test, and I think he needs to step up and do it.”
The first Republican primary debate is set for Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, which is the site of next years Republican National Convention.
Aside from Trump and DeSantis, other candidates who have qualified include South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
