Trump Opts for Tucker Carlson Interview over First GOP Debate
Former President Donald Trump has recently made a decisive choice: he will not be present at the upcoming first GOP debate, as confirmed by reliable sources familiar with his decision. Instead, Trump seeks an in-depth interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, intending to offer an alternative programming option.
One close source to Carlson has revealed that the host is currently en route to Europe, where he has an array of interviews and events scheduled throughout the upcoming week. This source stated that Carlson is consistently engaged in discussions with all potential candidates, although no concrete arrangements have been established between Trump and Carlson at this time.
When questioned about the former president’s plans for the following week, a representative from the Trump campaign informed NBC News that nothing has been definitively confirmed from their end.
Carlson has yet to respond to inquiries requesting his comment on this matter.
Initially reported by The New York Times, Trump’s intention to forego the debate in favor of an interview with Carlson has garnered considerable attention.
In the lead-up to this decision, Trump had been hinting at the possibility of bypassing the Wednesday night debate involving his fellow 2024 GOP contenders. He had been actively exploring avenues for counterprogramming, a topic discussed by those knowledgeable about his deliberations in previous weeks.
In a recent interview with Newsmax, Trump hinted that he would not be signing the loyalty pledge typically required to secure a spot on the debate stage, thereby showing his reluctance to support the eventual GOP nominee. This pledge, which Trump had signed before to gain access to the South Carolina ballot, remains an important factor in the debate participation process.
Ronna McDaniel, Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, expressed her belief that Trump would eventually sign the loyalty pledge if he chose to engage in the debate. McDaniel recalled Trump’s previous signing of the pledge to access the South Carolina ballot and inferred that he would likely do the same to secure his place on the debate stage.
As of now, the RNC has not received communication from Trump or his team regarding his participation in the debate.
The loyalty pledge not only requires candidates to support the eventual GOP nominee but also prevents them from participating in any non-RNC-sanctioned debates for the duration of the election cycle.
Among the lineup of at least nine GOP presidential candidates who seem to have met the fundraising and polling criteria set by the RNC for qualification in the upcoming debate hosted by Fox News in Wisconsin, former Vice President Mike Pence stands out. His campaign has officially confirmed his qualification for the debate. Had Trump chosen to participate, he would have confronted his former vice president on the debate stage, a notable clash given Trump’s indictment in two separate investigations concerning his attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.
The indictment by Special Counsel Jack Smith referenced Pence’s contemporaneous notes detailing discussions and meetings between the two men following Trump’s electoral defeat. Furthermore, Trump, along with 18 co-defendants, has been indicted on felony charges related to alleged endeavors to overturn the election results in Georgia.
Using his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump justified his absence from the GOP debate by highlighting his impressive poll numbers and his proven track record. He questioned the necessity of his participation in the debate, reiterating his commitment to “Make America Great Again.”
Reacting to The New York Times report on Trump’s decision to skip the debate, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a fellow GOP presidential candidate who has qualified for the debate, stated bluntly, “His loss if he’s not going.”
