(RightWing.org) – When former President Donald Trump was running for the White House in 2016, he refused to participate in the final Republican primary debate hosted by Fox News. The decision arose from a conflict he had with the network over a problem he had with host Megyn Kelly, who he accused of being hostile to him.
A couple of months after that debate, Trump again refused to attend another one. Fox News went on to cancel the third scheduled primary debate after he said he wasn’t going to attend. During the 2020 election, the 45th president bowed out of the second presidential debate because it was going to be a virtual event.
Now, the former POTUS is once again threatening to skip a debate.
Quid Pro No
The ex-POTUS is currently angry at Fox News for the network’s failure to air his speeches in Washington, DC, and Michigan. On June 26, Trump posted about it on TRUTH Social, slamming the network over its decision.
The former president pointed out that the network’s ratings have plummeted. And although they didn’t air the ceremony where he received the “Man of the Decade” award or a keynote speech in DC, the network wants him “to show up and get them ratings for their “Presidential” Debate, where [he’s] leading the field by 40 points.” He went on to accuse Fox of unfairly promoting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis even though “he’s dropping like a rock.”
“Sorry FoxNews [sic], life doesn’t work that way!!!” Trump declared.
Why Bother?
The former president’s remarks were not the first time this primary season that he has said he doesn’t intend to attend the debates. In April, The Associated Press reported Trump mentioned it at a campaign event in New Hampshire, showing a slideshow of his poll numbers compared to the other Republicans and asking, “Why would you do that?”
Trump also talked about it on TRUTH Social that month, questioning why he would subject himself to the environment at a debate when he’s winning in the polls. Then in an interview with New York’s WABC radio, the former president said, “People don’t debate when they have these massive leads.”
The ex-POTUS is also not thrilled about the second primary debate being held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California. Additionally, one of the debates will be hosted by Fox News host Bret Baier, who Trump recently called “nasty” after he granted the journalist an interview that grew combative.
If Trump doesn’t attend the debates, he could host a competing event as he did in 2016. Right now, no plans have been announced.
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