Ron DeSantis On Trump Skipping GOP Debates: 'Nobody's Entitled...You Got To Earn It'

Ron DeSantis on Thursday pushed Donald Trump to reconsider his decision to skip the initial GOP presidential primary debates.

What Happened: DeSantis, who is currently polling second in the GOP primaries race, in an interview on Newsmax said, "Nobody's entitled to be nominated. You got to earn it."

"And I think he should show up and make his case and answer questions like the rest of us."

DeSantis said he’s “not going to attack him personally; I'm not going to call him names," adding that But we've been very direct. Where there's differences on policy, we identify that, and we can let the people decide.”

See Also: Trump Jr. Sees End Of Civilization If His Father Is Indicted For Jan. 6 Capitol Riots: ‘We Are In Serious Trouble’

Trump, who is leading in most Republican-focused polls, has expressed uncertainty about his participation in the upcoming debates. The former president has pointed to his strong poll numbers to suggest he was inclined not to participate in at least the first two debates held by the Republican National Committee.

DeSantis has confirmed his presence on the debate stage, viewing it as a "great opportunity" to share his vision with voters.

Why It Matters: DeSantis has been vocal about his disagreement with Trump. Trump’s decision to skip GOP debates has drawn criticism from his opponents, including DeSantis, who says that "every candidate needs to be put to the test."

Trump's lead in the polls has been a point of contention, with some arguing that his participation in the debates could be more detrimental than beneficial. The first Republican presidential primary debate is scheduled for Aug. 23 in Wisconsin.

Earlier, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, who is also running for the GOP nomination, also weighed in on the matter, suggesting that Trump is “afraid” to face Republican presidential hopefuls in their first debate this summer.

Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock.com

Read Next: Rich Dad Poor Dad Author Labels Joe Biden A ‘Wimp,’ Calls Out Republicans Who Hate Trump