Trump Suggests He’ll Skip GOP Primary Debates: ‘Why Subject Yourself to Being Libeled and Abused?’

Get ready for some political drama! Former President Donald Trump has announced that he won’t be attending the two GOP primary debates scheduled by the Republican National Committee (RNC). In a Truth Social post, Trump revealed that he and his campaign were never consulted about the debates, and he’s not interested in being subjected to “MAGA-hating” moderators and needless exchanges with lesser candidates.

Trump’s attacks on his more polished rivals during debates in 2016 set him apart in a large GOP presidential primary field. But this time around, he’s not interested in playing that game.

The RNC had announced a set of 10 to 12 GOP presidential primary debates between August 2023 and the July 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The first debate was scheduled to be hosted by Fox News in Milwaukee, while the second was set to take place at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. But with Trump bowing out, it remains to be seen how the debates will play out.

Despite Trump’s claims that he was never consulted, an RNC source familiar with the process of scheduling the GOP’s 2024 debates has said that the RNC’s debate committee “has been communicating with all candidates and campaigns,” including Trump and his team, about prospective debate schedules, protocols, and format.

Love him or hate him, Trump’s decision not to attend the debates is sure to make waves in the political world. Will his absence hurt or help his chances of securing the GOP nomination? Only time will tell.