Former President Trump will not be participating in the first Republican primary debate, at least that is his decision right now. Instead, he is sending surrogates to Milwaukee to promote his message to media outlets. Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Florida U.S. Reps. Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz are the chosen surrogates.
Kari Lake is also going to Milwaukee, though it’s unclear if she is an official surrogate. Typically, campaigns are allowed to invite several surrogates to speak on their behalf after the debate in the spin room. Perhaps these Trump surrogates will be in the spin room to speak for Trump.
As is being reported, Trump decided to do his event instead of doing what the other candidates are doing. He is taping an interview with his pal Tucker Carlson. It will probably be available during the time the debate is taking place. Since it is likely to be on Tucker’s show on X (formerly Twitter), those interested in both events can watch that interview after the debate, or tape the debate and watch it later. Whatever floats your boat.
There is also the possibility that Trump turning himself in at the Fulton County jail may coincide with debate coverage. The Fulton County sheriff is on record saying that the jail is open 24/7 and Trump, along with the co-defendants, can turn themselves in at any time. Trump thrives on a media circus, though, so I picture him doing it in the afternoon hours on Thursday or on Friday morning. The deadline is noon on Friday. Would Trump turn himself in on Wednesday to mess with the pre-debate news cycle? I don’t know. It seems like, though, that he would wait until the last minute to turn himself in.
“It’s a huge story. In any debate environment, you’re always going to make sure you’re hitting the news of the day,” said Martha MacCallum, who will moderate the debate alongside colleague Bret Baier. “It’s also a deciding factor in voters’ minds.”
Biden staffers and DNC officials will be in Milwaukee to paint all the other candidates as Trump wannabes. There will be pro-Biden billboards set to be posted near the Fiserv Forum.
On Sunday, Trump posted some snark against the other candidates on Truth Social and included the announcement that he will not do any of the Republican primary debates.
Trump says he is not doing *any* debates
He lost any leverage he had to get Biden on the debate stage pic.twitter.com/D8alRZWDO2
— John Hasson (@SonofHas) August 20, 2023
So, when Joe Biden refuses to debate Trump before the November 2024 presidential election, it shouldn’t be a surprise. Biden won’t debate his Democrat challengers and is using the same excuse Trump is using with Republicans – he’s so far ahead of RFK, Jr. and Marianne Williamson, plus he is the incumbent, that he doesn’t have to debate. Trump claims he is so far ahead in the Republican polls that he doesn’t have to debate. So, who thinks the two eventual candidates, if Trump and Biden end up being the eventual candidates, will go the traditional route and debate each other? Voters are the losers. Debates are not about the egos of the candidates, they are to let the voters see and hear the candidates.
It’s not a strong look for either candidate, in my opinion. No one is entitled to a coronation. Will Trump do alternative events before each debate? Where is the RNC? Chairperson Ronna McDaniel should be more aggressive here. Why does Trump get to have surrogates at the debate if he is not participating? That doesn’t seem fair. It looks like he is getting special treatment. Ronna claims she is holding out hope that Trump does the debate on Wednesday. Allegedly she gave Trump a Monday deadline to give his decision.
Marjorie Taylor Greene has dreams of running for the Senate or being named Trump’s vice president if he is the nominee. She will use the role as Trump campaign surrogate to keep herself in contention for the vice president slot. I don’t think she and Reps. Donalds and Gaetz should be given time in the spin room at the debate if the candidate isn’t participating. YMMV.
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