Donald Trump.Photo:Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Donald Trumphas announced he won’t participate in the upcoming Republican presidential debate, days after he took to social media to accuse host network Fox News of “purposely” using “the worst” photos of him.
Donald Trump is the clear front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, with Ron DeSantis sitting in a distant second place.Phelan M. Ebenhack for The Washington Post via Getty, CHENEY ORR/AFP via Getty
Speaking to PEOPLE in recent interviews, Fox News Channel’sBret BaierandMartha MacCallum, who will moderate the debate, admitted that preparing for the debate without knowing whether the frontrunner would be there created something of a challenge.
“You have to plan for him to show up at the last minute,” MacCallum said of Trump. “He usually enjoys being in on the action and we certainly hope he will do that.”
A source toldNBC Newsthat Trump’s decision covers the first two debates, while also leaving the door open to the possibility that he may change his mind at some point in the future.
And while he says he won’t be there, Trump is sure to be a topic of conversation during the debate, as he is the subject ofnumerous ongoing investigationsand has been indicted four times in recent months.
Meanwhile, Florida governor and 2024 presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis is making headlines for a recent interview withThe Florida Standard, in which he described Trump supporters as “listless vessels.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.
Even on the heels of hisfour historic indictments, Trump’s support has not waned, with polls showing the former president sitting about 40 points ahead of the rest of the Republican candidates.
DeSantis, now situated in a distant second place, was once seen as a strong challenger to the former president, though he has struggled to get the support he expected since launching his campaign, ultimately laying off about a third of his staff this summer for financial reasons.
Some of his wealthiest GOP donors have also reportedlyreconsidered their support of DeSantis' candidacy, citing his extremist views as a liability.
source: people.com
