Fox News' Dana Perino vows to address 'anxieties of Americans' in her questions for GOP debate candidates
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: In one of the significant events in the leadup to the 2024 Presidential Election, the country will witness the GOP candidates battle it out in a second debate on Wednesday, September 27.
Former White House Press Secretary and Fox News host Dana Perino will be one of the moderators for the debate and she intends to leave no stone unturned. In an exclusive interview with Deseret News, Perino revealed her plans and preparations for the debate.
Dana Perino prepared for Trump's surprise appearance
A major bummer for most Republicans has been Trump's decision to not participate in the GOP debate. However, Perino has geared herself up in case the former president decides to make a surprise appearance.
"Now, one of the things I have done is prepared questions in case he does decide, at the last minute, to come," Perino said. "That would mean he would need to sign the (Republican National Committee) pledge. Anyway, he said he’s not. He said he’s going to be at the UAW (United Auto Workers) strike (in Detroit)."
Unlike her Fox News colleagues, she is not an avid supporter of Trump and his politics. Even so, Perino is one of the many who had hoped for his participation in the debate.
"I wish that he would come, but I also practice the serenity prayer and appreciate the wisdom to know the difference between the things I can and can’t control or change," she added. "And so we move on without him."
Dana Perino to bring 'America's anxieties' to the GOP debate stage
Perino is placing special emphasis on addressing the larger problems of the nation's citizens. According to her, the first debate was not successful in questioning the candidates on how they would solve these problems.
"There’s a collective anxiety and worry that Americans have right now about the direction of the country, as well as our own personal finances and well-being," the Fox News host said.
"And I always describe it as a leader should relieve people of that anxiety, And I’m not sure if we’ve heard from the candidates yet on how they will do that. And I mean, all the candidates, from the president and vice president to former president Trump and the rest of them," she added.
Perino also suggested that her past White House job as former President George W Bush's press secretary has played a significant role in helping her prepare for the debate.
"This is brand new for me," she said, "In a way, I feel like there’s a lot of things that I do in my life and in my career — my current job, and also my past job — that have helped me figure out what I might want to do as a moderator."
"For example, when I would brief President Bush for a press conference, I would anticipate the questions and help think about the best answer that would explain his decision-making and the policy decisions that he made," she explained.
The GOP debate will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley, CA.