'Fox & Friends' host Steve Doocy blames Donald Trump's dropping popularity on skipping first GOP debate as new poll results released

Doocy has previously been quite vocal about Trump's popularity being affected because of his decision to stay away from the first GOP debate
'Fox & Friends' host Steve Doocy suggests Donald Trump's absence from GOP debate has affected new poll results (Fox News, Mario Tama/Getty Images)
'Fox & Friends' host Steve Doocy suggests Donald Trump's absence from GOP debate has affected new poll results (Fox News, Mario Tama/Getty Images)

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: 'Fox & Friends' host Steve Doocy seems to have been proven right about his claim that Donald Trump's popularity would get affected by the GOP debate. 

A recently released poll has revealed Trump's new status amongst Republican voters; and while he continues to maintain the lead, his fellow candidates seem to be gaining more attention, threatening his chances to win the 2024 Presidential Election. 

Doocy has previously been quite vocal about Trump's popularity being affected because of his decision to stay off the first GOP debate. 

Donald Trump's voters shrink after GOP debate 

The new poll results came from Emerson College which had Trump in a major lead over other Republican candidates. 

The former president stood at a whopping 56 percent in the survey taken before the debate, leaving behind all the candidates in the presidential race. 

PICKENS, SOUTH CAROLINA - JULY 1: Former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures to the crowd at a campaign event on July 1, 2023, in Pickens, South Carolina. The former president faces a growing list of Republican primary challengers. (Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Former President Donald Trump declined the invitation to the GOP debate because of his 'unbeatable' lead in polls  (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)

However, the new poll results saw a drastic drop, with 50 percent of Republican voters continuing to stay loyal to Trump. 

While the numbers continue to be promising, the college went on to reveal that this was "the lowest support to date for the former President in Emerson national polls."

Who is leading the Republican polls? 

Trump continues to lead the Republican polls, including this new one with half of the voters on his side. With a loss of 6 percent of his voters, Trump was bound to have his fellow candidates make a slight jump from their previous positions. 

These Republican candidates participated in the first GOP debate for the 2024 Presidential Election (Fox News)
First GOP Debate has significantly affected the poll numbers for Republican candidates (Fox News)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, next in the lead, rose to 12 percent. Vivek Ramaswamy, one of the more popular candidates coming out of the fiery debate, dropped a percent to 9, third in the list.

Nikki Haley made a major jump from a mere 2 percent to 7, while Mike Pence shares the same position. 

Steve Doocy says GOP Debate absence behind Trump's poll dip

'Fox & Friends' hosts were quite desperate for the former president to make an appearance on the debate night but to no avail. Doocy had previously suggested that Trump's absence could threaten a Republican rule in the country. 

“As we had said before the debate, the debate was the official starting gate, essentially, for 2024, and people started shopping,” Doocy started, “And now people have started shopping."

'Fox & Friends' hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade get into a fiery argument over Joe Biden scandal (Fox & Friends/Fox News)
'Fox & Friends' host Steve Doocy suggests that Trump's return to the debate stage might get a little embarrassing  (Fox & Friends/Fox News)

Many, like the Fox hosts, had predicted that the other Republican candidates would get a lot more exposure because of Trump's absence. Doocy had the same idea. 

"They looked at the people on the stage, and they said, ‘You know what? I kind of like that person too,'" Doocy continued, "Donald Trump is still way ahead. But now people are looking at other people. And as we said before the debate as well, if Donald Trump gets in after skipping the first debate, it’s going to look like he’s getting in because he’s losing.”

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Sean Reagan’s past shapes a rescue in ‘Boston Blue’ Season 2 Episode 6 as Mika Amonsen discusses continuing the character’s ‘Blue Bloods’ story.
2026-11-14T19:02:59.000Z
Left Bank Pictures has responded to a tragic incident at the Edinburgh studio used for ‘Dept. Q’ as police inquiries into the circumstances continue.
2026-11-14T15:25:47.000Z
A fan-favorite ‘Matlock’ star shares a behind-the-scenes update as the CBS drama prepares for its Season 3 return.
2026-11-14T14:08:57.000Z
‘Gilmore Girls’ documentary ‘Drink Coffee, Talk Fast’ brings back familiar cast members, including Jared Padalecki and Scott Pattersonts
2026-11-14T10:08:21.000Z
'CSI' veteran Marg Helgenberger was once one of the highest-paid small-screen actresses
2026-11-14T09:17:43.000Z
Dexter sets his sights on the Jaw Splitter in Season 2, Episode 3, while a fan theory links the mysterious killer to actor Jack Dylan Grazer.
2026-11-14T07:37:35.000Z
‘Law & Order: SVU’ showrunner Michele Fazekas addresses Benson and Stabler’s future after their emotional reunion in the milestone 600th episode
2026-11-14T07:25:13.000Z
‘Station 19’ alum Jay Hayden joins ‘Fire Country’ Season 5 as Mason Ellis, whose return to Edgewater sparks a new conflict between Bode and Jake
2026-11-14T06:34:18.000Z
CBS brings ‘Marshals’ and ‘Tracker’ back to its Sunday lineup on November 15 with new episodes following a one-week break for ‘Cupertino.’
2026-11-14T05:54:18.000Z
Boone and Mickey's relationship gets complicated with Emmy's arrival in 'Sheriff Country'
2026-11-14T04:43:33.000Z