In a move that has once again drawn the spotlight onto him, former President Donald Trump has labeled the recent Republican primary debates as “boring” and “not watchable.” In a statement that is sure to resonate with his supporters, Trump confirmed that he will not be attending the next GOP debate.
“They’re not watchable,” Trump said at the rally. “You know, the last debate was the lowest-rated debate in the history of politics, so therefore do you think we did the right thing by not participating?” The questions drew cheers of approval from the crowd.
“Somebody said — one of the dumber ones — ‘Oh, he doesn’t have the courage to stand up,” Trump continued. “Well listen, I’m standing in front of tens of thousands of people right now and it’s on television. That’s a hell of a lot harder to do than a debate.”
Trump’s absence from these discussions is no new development. As reported by ABC News, he chose to hold a separate rally in Hialeah, Florida, instead of participating in the third primary debate held in Miami. His decision coincides with his continued popularity in polls, indicating that his direct engagement with his supporters might be more valuable than traditional debate participation.
The third Republican primary debate saw five candidates, including South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, and biotech executive Vivek Ramaswamy, face off on various issues such as the Israel-Hamas war, Ukraine, China, and abortion.
However, according to Trump, these discussions lacked the spark to engage viewers.
Despite the criticism, the debates have served as an opportunity for the candidates to express their visions for America and contrast their policies with those of their opponents. Yet, Trump’s dismissal of the debates may strike a chord with his base, who often share his skepticism towards mainstream political processes.
