Donald Trump will not attend the third debate in November as he pushes the Republican National Committee to cancel the remaining “inconsequential” events.
This comes after the 2024 Republican front-runner chose not to attend both the first debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin last month and the second Wednesday night in Simi Valley, California.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie both came out forcefully against Trump at the debate – urging him to show up to defend his record and take on his primary candidates.
After the second debate concluded, DeSantis even publicly challenged Trump to an individual debate. The Florida governor consistently ranks second in national polls and will debate California’s Democratic governor, Gavin Newsom, as early as November.
“You have to stop the debates,” Trump told the Daily Caller. “Because it’s just bad for the Republican Party.” They’re not going anywhere. “There will be no breakthrough candidate.”
He added: “I’m very concerned about the RNC not being able to do its job.”
Donald Trump will not take part in the third Republican primary debate on November 8, his campaign confirmed to , after the former president also skipped the first two debates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is now challenging Trump to a one-on-one debate after taking to the stage to demand that the former president appear to defend his record
Trump has suggested he might bypass any primary debates, stressing that the events were beneath him because no candidate could match his poll numbers.
Sources confirmed to that Trump will not appear at the next debate either.
According to multiple reports, the third debate is scheduled to take place on November 8th in Miami, Florida.
Trump’s campaign said in a statement Wednesday evening that the debate would not change the primary, where Trump was dozens of points ahead of the rest of the field.
“Today’s GOP debate was just as boring and inconsequential as the first debate, and nothing said will change the dynamics of the primary campaign dominated by President Trump,” wrote Chris LaCivita, the former president’s 2024 senior adviser.
Seven GOP candidates met Wednesday evening at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.
Candidates included Governor DeSantis, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, Governor Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
As they argued on stage and delved into persuasion in some of their answers, Trump held a rally near Detroit, Michigan, where he spoke to auto industry workers while the UAW union negotiated higher wages and shorter hours.
Eight candidates took part in the first debate last month. The only new entrant in this phase was Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who did not qualify for the second debate.
During the event in Wisconsin, Trump instead conducted an extensive interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which aired just five minutes before the debate.
“You know what, maybe we can say since the former president didn’t come here, maybe he would be willing to do one with you and me,” DeSantis told Fox News host Sean Hannity after the second GOP primary debate on Wednesday evening.
“I think he owes it to our voters to come out and advocate for this,” he added.
It repeated what DeSantis had said on stage moments earlier.
What started as an attack on President Joe Biden quickly turned to the former president.
“Where is Joe Biden, he is completely lacking leadership,” DeSantis said as the trio of Fox and Univision hosts asked about the economy and the prospects of a government shutdown.
“And do you know who else is missing in action?” the governor added. “Donald Trump is missing in action.” He should be on stage tonight. “He owes it to you to defend his record.”
Seven Republican candidates took the stage Wednesday night for the second Republican primary debate in Simi Valley, California
The governor’s comments were almost a direct repeat of what Chris Christie had said moments before during his time at the podium.
“Donald Trump – he’s hiding behind the walls of his golf clubs and he’s not going to show up here to answer questions like the rest of us are up here to answer them.”
“He added seven trillion to the debt, he should be in this room to answer these questions,” the former New Jersey governor added.
Christie later continued his attacks against Trump, speaking directly to his former ally by speaking into the camera.
“We need to bring law and order back to this country – and not just our cities… and we need it in Washington, DC too.” “Donald Trump should be here to answer for it, but he isn’t,” noted Christie when talking about the rise in crime.
“I’m going to look into the camera now and tell you, Donald, I know you’re watching. ‘You can’t help it – I know you’re watching, okay?’ said the former governor of New Jersey to laughter from the approximately 750 spectators in attendance.
Christie claimed: “And you are not here tonight – not because of polls and not because of your charges.” “You are not here tonight because you are afraid to stand on stage and defend your record.”