Former President Donald Trump is threatening to skip the Republican primary debates if he doesn’t get his way.
Trump, who is widely considered the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in 2024, has been critical of the format of the debates, saying they are unfair to him. He has also complained about the moderators, saying they are biased against him.
In a statement on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said that he would not participate in the debates unless the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) agrees to his demands.
“The CPD is a totally rigged and corrupt organization,” Trump said. “They are controlled by the Democrats and they are trying to rig the debates against me.”
He also said this on Truth Social: “I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them. When you’re leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the “questions,” why subject yourself to being libeled and abused? Also, the Second Debate is being held at the Reagan library, the Chairman of which is, amazingly, Fred Ryan, Publisher of the Washington Post. NO!”
Trump has not specified what his demands are, but he has previously called for the CPD to change the format of the debates, to allow him to bring his own moderators, and to allow him to have more time to speak.
In his post on Truth Social, Trump also shared concerns about the moderators of the debates, stating that they are “hostile” towards him and his supporters. By boycotting the debates, Trump can avoid potential bias or unfair treatment from moderators, which he may perceive as detrimental to his campaign.
The CPD has not responded to Trump’s demands.
Take a look at this:
Trump threatens not to participate in GOP primary debates.
“Why subject yourself to being libeled and abused?”
And of second debate at Reagan library, he writes, “NO!” pic.twitter.com/FidOKz7VsZ
— Shane Goldmacher (@ShaneGoldmacher) April 25, 2023
