United States: The former US President, Mr. Donald Trump, has confirmed that he will not attend the first Republican primary debate, which is scheduled for 23rd August 2023.
The ex-president has announced on his social media platform, Truth Social, that “New CBS poll, just out, has me leading the field by ‘legendary’ numbers… I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES.”
The initial debate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. For weeks, Mr. Trump has been wondering in private conversations with his advisors and mentioning at his public rallies whether he should participate in the debate or focus on other activities to showcase his political influence, despite facing four criminal charges.
The Republican primary voting kicks off in Iowa on January 15, 2024, and additional debates are expected to be scheduled to narrow down the candidates.
In the past few months, Mr. Trump has frequently hinted that he might not participate in the Republican debates. Mr. Donald Trump, who served as the 45th President of America from 2017 to 2021, is facing four criminal indictments. He will have multiple trials to attend in 2024 as he seeks another run for the White House.
The former President described the charges against him as a political “witch hunt.” While these charges could result in a significant prison term if Mr. Trump is found guilty, the practicalities, security concerns, and political considerations associated with imprisoning a former president make a traditional prison sentence seem improbable, according to many experts.