In the race for the White House, Donald Trump does not intend to confront his competitors from his own camp. The former US president indeed confirmed on Sunday that he will not participate in the debates of the Republican Party primaries, the first of which takes place on Wednesday.
“The public knows who I am and what a successful presidency I served, with energy independence, strong borders and a military, the biggest tax and regulatory cuts, no inflation, the strongest economy. strong in history, and many other things, ”said Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform.
Trump mocks Ron DeSantis
“I WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DEBATES! “, he added, claiming to benefit from 62% of the voting intentions in the Republican primaries, or 46 points ahead of his most serious rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The latter “crushes like a sick bird”, moreover mocked the former president.
Five months before the start of the primaries, which will designate the Republican candidate for the American presidential election of 2024, Donald Trump enjoys support from his base stronger than ever. But his legal setbacks cast a shadow over his attempt to return to the White House. The stormy billionaire, who denounces a “witch hunt”, is beset by cases: he is charged with conspiracy against American institutions in connection with his actions to reverse the result of the presidential election of 2020, negligent management of confidential files and falsification of accounting documents after the purchase of the silence of an actress of X films.
The first Republican debate is scheduled for Wednesday in Milwaukee, in the northeastern United States. Seven candidates met the necessary criteria to participate. Attending will be Ron DeSantis and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, Donald Trump’s former Vice President Mike Pence, his former UN ambassador Nikki Haley and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott.
A boon for its competitors?
Also in attendance will be businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, both threatening Ron DeSantis’ current runner-up spot in polls in Iowa and New Jersey. Hampshire, first states to vote in the primaries.
The authorities of the Republican Party had given Donald Trump until Monday to announce his decision on his possible participation. Despite his strong lead in the polls, relatives of the billionaire fear, however, that his rivals will take advantage of his absence to launch a dynamic. In 2016, after missing a debate, Donald Trump had indeed lost Iowa in the Republican primaries to Texas Senator Ted Cruz.