Tesla Inc CEO Elon Musk invited Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy for a debate on his social media platform X amid the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) warning against a joint appearance on Fox News.
What Happened: Musk on Wednesday posted on X, “Let's have a debate on the X platform. I'm happy to host.”
Musk’s response came in reply to Christie’s and Ramaswamy’s criticism of the RNC for threatening exclusion from future RNC-sanctioned debates.
See Also: Trump Campaign Urges RNC To Halt ‘Boring’ GOP Debates And ‘Train Our Fire On Crooked Joe Biden’
Christie and Ramaswamy, in separate posts on X, criticized the RNC, highlighting their dual appearance as an opportunity to engage in substantive debate, arguing that RNC-sanctioned debates lacked this level of discourse. Both candidates expressed disappointment over the RNC’s reaction. Christie denounced the threat of exclusion, while Ramaswamy accused the RNC of orchestrating a “broken process.”
In response, an RNC spokesperson said all candidates had previously agreed not to participate in unsanctioned debates.
"The same candidates complaining about the rules governing RNC debates all signed a pledge and agreed months ago to not participate in unsanctioned debates. The RNC will continue to enact a fair, transparent debate process and we will not give in to pressure from individuals seeking to change the rules to favor their candidacy," told Politico.
Why It Matters: The committee has a standing rule against candidates participating in non-sanctioned debates. However, the specifics of this rule are not always clear. For instance, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’s upcoming debate with California Governor Gavin Newsom on Fox News is not considered a violation, as it is not a GOP primary forum.
Following the RNC’s warning, the candidates and network modified their plans. Instead of a joint appearance, they will participate in two separate, consecutive segments. The RNC has approved the revised format.
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