In an interview with Tucker Carlson, former President Donald Trump launched an attack on his rivals while opting to skip the initial presidential debate.
The Interview Was Released as the Debate Began
As the front-runner for the Republican nomination, Trump chose not to participate in the first debate held in Milwaukee. Instead, he engaged in a pre-recorded conversation with Tucker Carlson, previously a Fox News host, which was published on X – formerly known as Twitter. The interview was released just five minutes before the debate began.
He Wanted to Avoid Questions
Trump voiced his reluctance to endure potential “harassment” from candidates he deemed unfit for the presidency. He questioned the wisdom of participating in a network that he perceived as unfriendly to him and expressed his dissatisfaction with the idea of facing aggressive questioning. “Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it’s going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for president?” he said, evidently missing the irony.
He Called Other Candidates “Nasty”
Trump wasted no time in criticizing his rivals. He labeled former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson as “nasty” and cited him, along with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, as examples of candidates who should not share the debate stage – presumably due to their negative opinions about Trump’s candidacy.
Debates Are Beneath Trump
Trump justified his decision to skip the debate by emphasizing his leading position in the polls and his belief that the platform was beneath him. His decision was further reinforced by his ongoing disputes with Fox News Channel, which was hosting the debate.
A Conspiracy Theorist
The interview with Tucker Carlson highlighted the former president’s alignment with extreme viewpoints and conspiracy theories, mirroring his campaign’s focus on disputed claims surrounding the previous election. Carlson, known for promoting controversial ideas such as the concept of White people being “replaced” by people of color, engaged Trump in discussions about conspiracy theories and potential threats to his life posed by political opponents.
Very Loyal Republicans
Despite his intense legal challenges and controversies, Trump has managed to maintain his stronghold within the Republican Party. His absence from the debate stage did not significantly affect his popularity among party members, as evident from his strong poll numbers.
Trump’s Alignment With Contentious Narratives
By opting for the interview with Carlson over the debate, Trump showcased his alignment with contentious narratives. His decision also seemed like a calculated move to send a message to the network that had previously dismissed Carlson, a dismissal that came after Fox News agreed to a substantial settlement in response to Dominion Voting Systems’ defamation lawsuit regarding the network’s coverage of Trump’s post-2020 election claims.
Marjorie Taylor Greene
Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Representative and Trump campaign surrogate, considered it unnecessary for Trump to debate, given his lead in the polls. She believed Trump had nothing to prove against his opponents on the stage. She said: “There’s nothing that he has to prove on that stage with them. They have everything to prove against him.”
A Strong and Divisive Influence
Several candidates in the debate, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, embraced Trump’s policies while criticizing him for not fully implementing them. Despite Trump’s absence, his influence on the party’s agenda remained strong and divisive.
The Internet Responded
News of Trump’s refusal to partake in the debate was shared across the internet and people had a lot to say. One individual wrote: “He’s never debated anyone even when he did participate. He has no concept of what a debate is or how one works. All he ever did was run his mouth about random [stuff] when it was his turn. We are all better off for not having to listen to his verbal diarrhea.”
Carlson Is Becoming Irrelevant
Some commenters claimed Carlson needs people like Trump to maintain viewership. One such individual wrote: “If you guys look, [Carlson’s] view count [is] dropping with each episode. I think he [got] spikes with his Tate interview and with Trump. But it shows that [Carlson] and Trump need each other to stay relevant. [Carlson] is growing irrelevant,
and Trump is going to jail.”
A Request From Trump’s Lawyers
Others wondered if Trump’s lawyers requested he didn’t participate.“I would hazard a guess his lawyers begged him not to go on national TV [and] speak at all, knowing full well ‘anything you say can and will be held against you.’ But he can’t have that, gotta run his yap off somewhere [and] add to the golden shopping list prosecutors already have on him,” one person wrote.
Fleeing for Fear of Looking Stupid
A fair few commenters accused Trump of fleeing the debate for fear of looking stupid. One person wrote: “Coward. He’s a coward. He doesn’t want to go to the debate because he knows he’s clueless and he’ll look like the idiot he is. So he’s attacking his rivals in an environment that they can’t fight back in. Coward.”
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