this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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The former president’s apparent decision to skip the first debate is a major affront both to the Republican National Committee and to Fox News, which is hosting the event.

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 74 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I thought he was the best debater? What's he afraid of?

[–] neptune@dmv.social 51 points 1 year ago (4 children)

I think it's a power move. The GOP is nothing without his base. He's forcing that point. Viewer numbers are what feeds his ego.

[–] hitmyspot@aussie.zone 14 points 1 year ago (3 children)

He’s afraid. He craves attention more than he can provide it.

[–] neptune@dmv.social 21 points 1 year ago

Maybe both. Obviously Tucker will give him softballs. But it's a competition he's more comfortable with: collecting eyeballs.

[–] Oderus@lemmy.world 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He's too privileged and stupid to be scared. He's certain he'll get away with whatever he does regardless of what that is.

I agree with others saying this is a power move. By not going, he basically proves that many Republicans won't watch which means less views which means Trump can say, without lying, that because he didn't show the views were down.

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[–] ImFresh3x@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 year ago

He’s got nothing to lose by not going, and everything to lose by going to the debate. He’s the clear nominee at this point. The GOP is Trump. It’s almost beneath him at this point to enter a debate with those others. And he’s making that point. The GOP is that far gone. Without someone like Trump what’s left of their electorate will not vote.

Exactly. Why go and share a stage with a bunch of people who are trailing him so much in the polls when he can go sit down with Tucker Carlson and get all the attention.

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[–] dhork@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago

He's a Master Debater

[–] tastysnacks@programming.dev 3 points 1 year ago

Mike Pence. The dude should just crack him. He’d go up in the polls.

[–] paddirn@lemmy.world 71 points 1 year ago (3 children)

He doesn't really need to go though. Latest polling numbers have him at 54% of the Republican vote, with DeSantis at 15% as his closest competitor. Who does he need to convince that doesn't know who he is already? As much as I hate him, he's still unfortunately popular with many in the GOP, I just hope he's rotting in a prison cell by the time the actual election gets underway and the GOP has to scramble to put up some other reject in his place.

[–] Nougat@kbin.social 31 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I just hope he’s rotting in a prison cell by the time the actual election gets underway and the GOP has to scramble to put up some other reject in his place.

You're thinking of the Republican primary. He'll still run in the general with or without the Republican nomination, in or out of prison. If he gets the nomination, and ends up convicted, there's going to be a hell of a fight in the Republican party. Invest in popcorn now.

[–] JustZ@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (1 children)

There's already a hell of fight in the party. He lost twice already.

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[–] partial_accumen@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago (2 children)

He doesn’t really need to go though. Latest polling numbers have him at 54% of the Republican vote, with DeSantis at 15% as his closest competitor. Who does he need to convince that doesn’t know who he is already?

If they're smart, this is the GOPs chance to out all the dirty laundry on Trump uncontested by Trump himself on a nationally televised event. Each candidate will have their chance to dunk on Trump while high-fiving each other.

[–] Infynis@midwest.social 8 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Except, according to DeSantis' leaked debate prep, he's planning to defend Trump

[–] keeb420@kbin.social 8 points 1 year ago

What a pathetic little man. He has a chance to show how he's different from trump and the best he can do is get on his knees and plead fealty!?

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[–] billiam0202@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

If the GOP didn't try to convince their base to drop Trump on January 7th 2021, they never will.

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[–] Djennik@lemmy.world 36 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I thought Tucker hated him passionately?

[–] chrizbie@lemmy.nz 52 points 1 year ago

He doesn't hate him as much as he loves views though

[–] JJROKCZ@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago

Yea but he loves money more

[–] nutsack@lemmy.world 33 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

a strategically correct move in his case honestly

[–] Landmammals@lemmy.world 33 points 1 year ago

Really Trump's best move is just to assume he's the nominee and act like it's foolish for the GOP to even have a primary.

[–] Raptor_007@lemmy.world 30 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] LEDZeppelin@lemmy.world 28 points 1 year ago

GOP is trump’s bitch at this point

[–] SpunkyBarnes@geddit.social 13 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Wait. Tucker? I thought he’d been deplatformed.

[–] korewa@reddthat.com 12 points 1 year ago (11 children)

He seems to be on twitter. yt algorithm recommended his video for some reason.

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[–] BlinkAndItsGone@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The article only has one line about this, noting that what platform this interview would take place on is unclear. I just checked and it looks like he's continued to do a show on Twitter despite Fox News sending him a cease-and-desist letter, so presumably it would be there.

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[–] flossdaily@lemmy.world 11 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Weird, I thought Trump was going to use the distraction of the debate to flee the country.

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[–] theodewere@kbin.social 10 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

they're both circling the bowl.. together..

Haha I love this

[–] GreenMario@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

I wouldn't show up to any debates either if I was him. Why would I I have a motherfuckin CULT that will die for me. All I gotta do is tweet "kill em all my peeps" and it's over.

Wouldn't even dignify these pretenders with my presence.

Honestly I'm curious as to why he hasn't given the "fire at will" order yet. I would have Jan 6. Other billionaires holding him back?

[–] dynamojoe@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Ronna McDaniel's prayers have been answered. Now they don't have to fret over banning Trump for not signing the GOP Loyalty pledge.

[–] mr_tyler_durden@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago
[–] athos77@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Gotta try to boost the ratings for the mouthpiece that helped boost you up and covered your ass last time around, eh? And keep yourself from facing direct criticism or being forced to sign that annoying "support the nominee" pledge - or letting tv cameras you don't control show the nation see how fat, sallow, and stressed you look, or hearing the dementia-and-pill addled word salad come out of your mouth.

I wouldn't be surprised if they pre-recorded it, either.

It might ruffle some feathers at the RNC that he is treating their debate invite like he treats a Congressional subpoena.

[–] ScrollinMyDayAway@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Let them fight.

There's a reference there, but I didn't feel like looking up the gif.

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[–] Javish@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

What a coward.

[–] Treczoks@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Which again shows what a coward he is. He already said that he won't honor the pledge of a GOP candidate that he would support the primary winner regardless of who it is.

If the GOP was honest and true, they would have to stop supporting Trump.

[–] kersploosh@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

He's not being cowardly, he's running the circus and rubbing it in the party's face. Trump stole the GOP base out from under the party and the party leadership can't do anything about it.

[–] donuts@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago

I think he's both being a coward and running the circus.

As for the debates, why should he?

I mean, the guy certainly doesn't care for democracy or informing the populous about his utter lack of policies, and with a >30% lead in the Republican primary polls he has everything to lose while the other candidates can only gain. Trump and his people know that there's no upside in it for him to debate, especially since he's fucking terrible at it, and his cult of followers probably won't care if he doesn't show up anyway.

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[–] RaivoKulli@sopuli.xyz 3 points 1 year ago

If he doesn't have to go since he's so far ahead, this seems like a smart move.

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