(Corine Gatti, Headline USA) Former President Donald Trump threatened to skip the upcoming GOP debates, citing concerns about moderators, disrespect and the “hateful networks” that are abusive to him,” the RSBN reported.
On his social-media platform, Truth Social, Trump expressed disapproval of the debates and criticized the networks and moderators for their perceived bias against him and his supporters.
“I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them,” Trump posted.
“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?” he added.
The first debate is expected to occur in August in Milwaukee and will air on Fox News, Politico reported.
Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the second debate location, tentatively set to be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif. He noted that the board of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which oversees the library, is chaired by Fred Ryan, current publisher and CEO of the left-skewed Washington Post.
Trump later posted on the thread that Ryan has always tried to hide the fact that he’s also Chairman of the Reagan Library. “He knew the reaction from Real Republicans, not the RINOS that don’t care, would be volatile. He’s also hiding it from his Liberal Friends. President Ronald Reagan would not approve!”
At least one other board member may be hostile toward Trump: former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao. Chao, the wife of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has been embroiled in a feud of sorts with Chao, who accuses the shipping-industry scion of having sold out America in favor of economic ties with China.
The Republican National Committee has indicated that all candidates must pledge their commitment to the official nominee, or they will be excluded from participating in the debates.
But the former president has refused to pledge in the past. He skipped one debate during the 2016 GOP primary cycle but he participated in later debates.
Trump is the current GOP frontrunner, holding a large lead over Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, an NBC April 2023 poll showed.
According to the poll, 46% of Republican primary voters have chosen Trump as their top choice for the 2024 candidate, with DeSantis following closely behind at 31%.
