Trump hints he could skip Republican presidential debates

Former President Donald Trump suggested Tuesday that he may skip the 2024 Republican presidential primary debates to avoid being “abused” by critical moderators.

Accusing GOP organizers of siding with his critics, Trump said he wouldn’t hesitate to boycott the showdowns, especially since he is the front-runner.

“When you’re leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the ‘questions,’ why subject yourself to being libeled and abused?” Trump wrote on his social media site.

Trump also slammed the selection of the Ronald Reagan Library as the site of the second planned debate because Washington Post publisher Fred Ryan is the chairman of its board.

If Trump remains the favorite for the nomination, he may see the debates as being an unwelcome opportunity for rivals to catch up.

Right-wing flame thrower Steve Bannon flat out called for the debates to be canceled in view of Trump’s dominance over the GOP field.

“It’s an insult to the president [Trump] and an insult to MAGA,” Bannon said. “Full stop, no debates.”

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley has already announced her candidacy and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says he will decide soon whether to jump into the race. Ex-Vice President Mike Pence is also mulling a run.

The Republican National Committee has already announced the first two debates starting in August, with the first one to be aired on Fox News.

RNC chair Ronna McDaniel has insisted that any Republican candidate who wants to participate in the debates needs to agree to support the eventual GOP nominee.

Trump has avoided making the pledge, saying that it’s unnecessary because he will be the nominee.

Trump has a long history of using his real and perceived leverage over debates to his advantage.

He skipped a crucial GOP contest in advance of the 2016 Iowa caucuses because he objected to Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly serving as a moderator.

Trump also pulled out of one of the general-election debates with President Biden because organizers decided to hold it remotely to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

Republicans have pulled out of the bipartisan group that has organized general-election presidential debates, leaving it uncertain if they will take place as in past contests.