Trump likely to skip first, maybe second GOP primary debates

May 3, 2023

Former President Donald Trump said he's seriously considering skipping the first, and possibly second, GOP primary debates scheduled for August, because he's so far ahead of the pack right now.

Five sources told the New York Times that they had spoken to Trump about the debates, which were announced last week by RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel.

"I'm up by too many points," Trump reportedly said, according to one source.

Another source said, “In his mind there’s not enough candidates who are polling close enough to him. And that if he does a debate this early with candidates who are polling in the single digits, there’s no upside for him."

Trump also said he had a problem with Fox News hosting the first debate, and that the second one was being held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, for which the chairman of the board of trustees is Frederick J. Ryan, Jr., the CEO of the Washington Post.

Trump is currently 30 points ahead of his closest rival, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, in most polls. Other candidates are only polling single digits.