Trump Camp Responds to Report They Are Considering Participating in Next Week’s NewsNation Debate
(AP Photo/John Minchillo)
While a new report suggests that former President Donald Trump may attend the fourth Republican primary debate of the 2024 cycle next Wednesday, a representative of the Trump campaign told Mediaite that he would not be making his debut at the next forum, which will be hosted by NewsNation and The CW.
The Daily Mail reported on Thursday that it had obtained an image showing “five white lecterns evenly arrayed onstage at the Frank Moody Music Building on the University of Alabama campus in Tuscaloosa where the candidates will debate” — including one for Trump. It also cited a source at NewsNation who claimed that the cable news network had “held a phone call with a Trump representative to discuss logistics for attending the event.”
But after being asked if there was “any chance” Trump might participate in the debate, which will be moderated by NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas, SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly, and the Washington Free Beacon’s Eliana Johnson next week, a representative for the campaign replied “No.”
In August, Trump boasted that because he was “leading the field by ‘legendary’ numbers'” he would not take the stage for any of the primary debates.
“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!” declared Trump at the time.
Both of the two most viable challengers to Trump’s hold on the nomination have knocked the frontrunner for his decision.
“Trump needs to debate,” submitted former Ambassador Nikki Haley after the first forum in August. ” If you want the American people’s support, you gotta show up. You can’t be absent”.
“Donald Trump is missing in action. He should be on this stage tonight,” argued Florida Governor Ron DeSantis at the second debate in September. “He owes it to you to defend his record.”
