Donald Trump reveals real reason why he skipped GOP debate in conversation with Tucker Carlson
BEDMINSTER, NEW JERSEY: On August 23, only a few hours before the GOP debate was ready to go live on Fox News, former Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson revealed that there would be an interview on X, formerly known as Twitter, featuring Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump.
This interview was released at 8.55 pm ET, only 5 minutes before the GOP debate went live on Fox News. In this sit down with Carlson, Trump answered the most burning question about why he isn’t present at the GOP debate.
The main reasons include his current standing, which is ahead of the rest of the candidates, and his relationship with Fox News.
Former President Donald Trump on ‘Tucker on X’
Episode 19 of ‘Tucker on X’ begins with a brief clip of Donald Trump and Tucker Carlson, where Carlson says, “It’s debate night, but we’re not in Milwaukee.”
As the interview away from Fox News and GOP debate begins, Carlson asks, “Mr President, thanks for joining us.” After Trump thanks Carlson, the latter dives straight in, “Why aren’t you at the Fox News debate tonight at Milwaukee?”
Trump, who is suited in blue, answered, “Well, you know, a lot of people have been asking me that and many people said you shouldn’t do them. But you see, the polls have come out and I’m leading by 50 and 60 points, and you know, some of them are at one and zero and two.”
Ep. 19 Debate Night with Donald J Trump pic.twitter.com/ayPfII48CO
— Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) August 24, 2023
The former president continued, “And I’m saying, do I sit here for an hour or two hours, whatever it is going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn’t even be running for President? Should I be doing that?”
Donald Trump explains poll numbers
Trump then mentioned Fox News, which is hosting the GOP debate, as he continued, “And the network isn’t particularly friendly to me frankly. You know, they were back Ron Desanctimonious like crazy, and now they’ve given up on him. I mean, it’s a lost cause.”
On ‘Tucker on X’, Trump compared his current situation to 2016, “You know, in 2016, I went through the same stuff and had to fight them all the way, and then they became very friendly after I won or just about when I was winning.”
He declared, “But I just felt it would be more appropriate not to do the debate. I don’t think it’s right to do it if you’re leading by 50/60.”
Trump went on to say “I have one poll I’m leading by 70 points, and I’m saying, ‘why am I doing it?’”
He further explained, “And I’m going to have eight people, ten people — whoever made the debate, I don’t know how many it is — but I’m going to have all these people screaming at me, shouting questions at me, all of which I love answering, love doing, but it doesn’t make sense to do them.”
He concluded, laughing, “So, I’ve taken a pass, as you’ve probably noticed."