Trump Will Not Participate in First GOP Debate, NYT Reports

The New York Times (Lean Left bias) is reporting that former president and 2024 Republican front-runner Donald Trump plans to skip next week’s Republican primary debate and sit down with Tucker Carlson (Right bias) for an exclusive interview instead. 

Details: The Times cited “multiple people briefed on the matter” for the development, and noted that the “notoriously mercurial” Trump could change his mind between now and the debate, scheduled for Wednesday, August 23 at 8:00 P.M. CST on Fox News (Right bias). On Thursday, Trump questioned why he would participate in the debate given his “extraordinary” lead in the polls. Trump stated in a post on Truth Social that he is “leading the runner up, whoever that may now be, by more than 50 Points. Reagan didn’t do it, and neither did others. People know my Record, one of the BEST EVER, so why would I Debate? I’M YOUR MAN.”

For Context: Trump has often clashed with the Republican National Committee, which is sponsoring the debate. In addition to Trump’s lead in the polls, his refusal to sign the RNC’s “loyalty pledge” has been a point of contention. His potential decision to counter the debate with an interview with Carlson is also significant, given that Carlson is a former Fox News host and was let go from the network in April. 

How the Media Covered It: Outlets across the spectrum are citing the Times’ reporting in coverage, as an official announcement is not yet released.