Trump Received A Warning From GOP Chair — Forego The Debate And Set A 2024 Precedent For Biden

In a surprising move, former President Donald Trump has opted out of the Republican Party’s first sanctioned debate, creating apprehension for a potential 2024 election face-off with incumbent President Joe Biden.

What Happened: As per a New York Times report, Trump has chosen to ignore advice from his advisers that avoiding the debate could deter Biden from engaging in future debates, if they were to run against each other in the 2024 elections. Instead, Trump has decided to sit for a pre-recorded interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which is slated for release online on Wednesday.

The Republican Party’s leader visited Trump’s private club in Bedminster, New Jersey, on July 17, urging him to join the party’s inaugural sanctioned debate for the presidential nomination.

Republican National Committee chairwoman, Ronna McDaniel, argued that Trump’s absence could provide President Biden an excuse to avoid future debates in 2024. Despite the advice, Trump seems to have decided against participating in the first debate.

Why It Matters: Trump’s advisors, despite his non-participation, view debates with Biden as crucial for his chances of success in a potential rematch. This could lead to friction with the Republican National Committee (RNC), which has been seeking an alternative to the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) for hosting general election face-offs for the last two years.

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Sources close to the matter have hinted that Trump is willing to return to a debate under the CPD, provided it’s the only avenue to secure a debate against Biden. The RNC mandates candidates to sign the “beat Biden pledge” to participate in primary debates and agree to participate solely in RNC-approved general election debates. However, Trump has yet to sign owing to his reluctance to attend a primary debate.

Although previous candidates have bypassed primary debates, and Biden like predecessors back to Gerald Ford, is skipping primary debates, there’s little precedent in modern history for an incumbent president avoiding general election debates, barring Jimmy Carter. The decision to participate is ultimately up to the nominee, and the RNC cannot mandate it.

Trump’s decision not to engage in the GOP primary debate has raised eyebrows, particularly given his earlier contemplation of counter-programming.

The former president’s decision, which he justified by stating that the public is already familiar with his identity, leaves uncertainty about his participation in future debates.

Despite Trump’s lead in the GOP primary polls, his absence from the debate platform could potentially allow other candidates to shine, shifting the dynamics of the 2024 elections. Despite this, RNC chairperson, McDaniel, remains hopeful that Trump will eventually participate in the GOP debate.

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