Despite his likely absence, Trump was at the center of the first debate in the Republican primary

Ahead of the first debate in the Republican primary on Wednesday, August 23, all attention has turned to Donald Trump, the former presidential candidate who has been convicted four times. However, the billionaire questions his participation. Five months before the start of the primaries, which will choose the Republican nominee for the 2024 US presidential election, the top candidate has stronger support from his base than ever before.

But his many legal setbacks overshadow his bid to return to the White House. Constantly in the headlines, Donald Trump has boasted of his ability to dispense with debate, unwillingness to share the spotlight with his rivals, who lag behind in opinion polls. “I’m ahead of the second, whoever it is, by more than 50 pointstaunted the billionaire on his Truth Social platform on Thursday.

“Why should I discuss?”

Former Republican President RonaldReagan did not succeed in this, nor in others. People know my record, and it’s one of the best in history, so why should I argueHe also wondered. Whether or not he appears on the debate podium in Milwaukee, in the north of the United States, Donald Trump will be good at wooing his Republican opponents, who must not fail to attack him with his various charges.

“Obviously, his legal troubles are affecting the raceUpon nomination, he fired Bret Baer, ​​one of the Fox News hosts responsible for moderating the debate. “All of these candidates have been interrogated non-stopabout his work,So it’s going to be part of the debate, whether it’s there or notThe reporter told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Read also‘Orange’ skin, ‘chin pull’: Donald Trump accuses Fox News of using ‘worst images’ of him

compromise

Seven other candidates met the necessary criteria to participate in the debate. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence, his former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott will attend. Also attending will be businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, both of whom threaten current runner-up Ron DeSantis’ spot in the Iowa and New Jersey polls.

Republican party authorities have given Donald Trump until Monday to announce his decision on his possible participation. Despite his strong lead in opinion polls, the billionaire’s relatives worry that in his absence, his rivals could take advantage of a powerful moment to unleash a dynamic. In 2016, after missing a debate, Donald Trump did not win Iowa in the Republican primary, to the detriment of Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Second, but apart from Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis could see the former president’s absence as a boon for the debate.

Read alsoUS presidency 2024: The candidates are on the starting line

“The only person being attacked»

Mr. DeSantis’ campaign finance organization (Super PAC) also hinted at the Florida governor’s potential strategy on Wednesday, in an effort to reverse the negative dynamics of his campaign. In a two-page memo posted online, the super PAC encourages Ron DeSantis not to back down on Joe Biden, defend Donald Trump from Chris Christie’s attacks and call out political novice Vivek Ramaswamy “Can“.

“I’m the only one attacked by Donald Trump’s campaign teamRon DeSantis told Fox News Radio on Wednesday. “And besides the other candidates, many of them don’t say much about Donald Trump, and focus more on me. So we’ll be ready for all of thatHe added, referring to the discussion. As a condition of their participation, candidates mustTo honor the will of voters in the primariesAnd support the winner. But how to apply this rule is not clear. Donald Trump has already announced that he will not sign this pledge.

Friday , The New York Times He claimed that Donald Trump had intended not to appear at the Milwaukee debate, preferring to format the interview at the same time as Tucker Carlson, the former host of Fox News Today over X, the former Twitter. In response to a question about this, Donald Trump’s campaign team responded to France Press:We don’t have anything confirmed on our side.»