Donald Trump Now Has A Good Reason To Skip The Republican Debate – Donald Trump has a very busy week coming up.
The now four-time indicted former president must appear in Fulton County’s courthouse by Friday, August 25, two days after the first Republican primary debate. However, only the courthouse appearance is mandatory.
As such, Donald Trump – who commands a monumental lead in the Republican polls – may choose to coincide his trip to Georgia with the debate in Milwaukee.
Doing so may be a smart move, according to some of his former aides, allowing him to free up his schedule by skipping Milwaukee altogether (and avoid debating his views with his competitors).
Trump’s public reluctance to attend the August 23 commitment implies this is not an unlikely scenario.
Intentions Remain Unclear
Trump’s opposition to the Milwaukee debate has been clear for some time. “Let them debate so I can see who I might consider for Vice President!” he wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Since then, he’s made no sign of commitment, even refusing to sign the Republican Party’s loyalty pledge to ensure candidates support the presidential nominee and avoid participation in non-sanctioned debates.
Moreover, Trump’s relationship with debate broadcaster Fox News has soured. He’s branded his once-favorite network as “hostile,” and has criticized Fox for not covering his campaign trail.
Earlier this month, The New York Times reported that Trump had dinner in the hours after his third indictment with Fox News president Jay Wallace and chief executive Suzanne Scott at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. Both reportedly appealed to the former president to attend the debate, although the result of their efforts remains to be seen.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words for Donald Trump
Two former Trump aides, both speaking anonymously to NBC, have expressed their views as to why Trump may not wish to attend.
Attending court on the same day would undoubtedly attract media attention. He would not even have to attend court at the same time as the debate; his court appearance alone would be met with speculation, live coverage and reaction should he visit Fulton County in the early afternoon. It would be a “smart” move according to one former aide, who went on to say “there’s no reason he should debate” when referring to his monumental polling lead.
Another source told NBC that Trump could turn himself in on August 24 – the day after the debate and the day before his court deadline. “He should do it the day after the debate to suck up all the post-debate coverage,” the source said. “That way even if another candidate has some sort of ‘moment’ at the debate, it falls into a black hole, press-wise.”
Skipping the debate with no clear reason to do so could prove unpopular with Republican voters. That said, his “witch hunt” rhetoric has resonated with them to this point, so what’s to say a court-mandated scheduling conflict won’t do the same?
Shay Bottomley is a British journalist based in Canada. He has written for the Western Standard, Maidenhead Advertiser, Slough Express, Windsor Express, Berkshire Live and Southend Echo, and has covered notable events including the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
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