Donald Trump is expected to skip the GOP presidential primary debate on Wednesday, a move that has sparked debate among political experts.
According to the New York Times, Trump plans to forgo the event hosted by Fox News and instead participate in an online interview with Tucker Carlson, the network's former host. Trump's decision is based on his significant lead in national polls over his Republican rivals, as he has highlighted on his Truth Social site.
However, Politico's Senior Campaign and Elections Editor Steven Shepard argues that Trump's choice to skip the debate may not work in his favor. Shepard points out that televised debates have historically played a crucial role in shaping primary races, with candidates' performances often leading to significant changes in the standings.
Trump's absence could potentially benefit Ron DeSantis, the second-place contender in the GOP field, if he delivers a strong debate performance. On the other hand, DeSantis will face increased scrutiny and attacks from the rest of the field in Trump's absence, making his ability to effectively respond critical.
Meanwhile, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who has centered his campaign around criticizing Trump, has already criticized the frontrunner for his likely absence from the debate stage. Christie referred to Trump as a "certified loser" and a "verified coward" in a post on X. During an interview with MSNBC, Christie challenged Trump to show up at the debate and stop avoiding it if he truly believes he should be the nominee and has a strong record as president.
While Trump's debate plans have not been officially confirmed by his campaign spokesman, he has been suggesting for months that he would skip the first debate due to his significant lead in the polls. Trump has argued that his record speaks for itself and questioned why he should participate in a debate when he is already ahead.
He also referenced former President Ronald Reagan's decision to skip the first televised GOP debate in 1980, which briefly backfired when George H.W. Bush had a strong performance and eventually won the Iowa caucuses. However, Reagan went on to secure the nomination and chose Bush as his running mate.
This is not the first time Trump has chosen to skip a primary debate. During the 2016 campaign, he opted out of a debate in Iowa due to a feud with Fox News Channel, specifically with then-host Megyn Kelly over her tough questioning in a previous debate.
The New York Times' sources suggest that Trump is likely to skip the second GOP presidential debate as well, which is scheduled for September 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. The library's prominent speaker series has excluded Trump but extended invitations to critics, including former Rep. Liz Cheney, who served on the House select committee on January 6.
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