It’s still a little too early to predict the attack angle that Fox News Corp is constructing against Donald Trump for their announced control over the August 2023 presidential debate; however, the one thing we are certain of is the attack itself.
You might not remember how CTH accurately predicted the attack by Megyn Kelly and the specific angle of using sexism during the August 2015 debate. That accurate prediction was an assembly of datapoints including Kelly’s lead in television appearances; the fact that FOX’s vice-president of political content, Bill Sammon, was in charge of the debate format; the fact that Rupert Murdoch was promoting Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio; and the fact that Bill Sammon’s daughter, Brooke Sammon, was the communications director for the Rubio campaign. The prediction was accurate, and Megyn Kelly did exactly what Rupert Murdoch paid her to do.
By the time the second Fox News debate came around in Feb 2016, candidate Trump just ignored it and held a rally instead. This is the context for another round of Republican presidential debates, and the intent of Fox News and the RNC to support it, once again. Fox and the RNC have once again agreed to an August 2023 debate – President Trump leading by 30 to 40 points in the polls, has not. [SEE VIDEO] WATCH:
The second debate is scheduled for the Ronald Reagan Library, an ideological opposition group to the interests of MAGA. As noted by the New York Times, “The chairman of the library’s board of trustees, Frederick J. Ryan Jr., also serves as the publisher and chief executive officer of The Washington Post, a fact that Mr. Trump regularly brings up.”
The Ronald Reagan library venue is as establishment Republican as it gets. The America First agenda would find more support at the George W. Bush ranch in Texas. The board members of the Ron Reagan library hate Donald Trump and have never invited him there to speak. For President Trump, that venue is a non-starter.
We all know what both GOPe institutions holding and broadcasting Republican debates are going to attempt against President Trump. Which explains why President Trump has agreed to a CNN townhall event. Even with the pre-planted audience questions and attendees designed to undermine Donald Trump, at least facing the enemy on their turf he knows what to expect.
[New York Times] […] For Mr. Trump, denying his low-polling rivals access to a massive television audience is part of his calculations in potentially skipping the debates, according to the people who have discussed the matter with him. In 2015, Fox News drew an audience of 24 million for the first primary debate of the 2016 campaign. It was, at the time, the biggest viewership for a nonsports event in cable television history.
“In his mind there’s not enough candidates who are polling close enough to him,” said a person familiar with Mr. Trump’s thinking, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations with the former president. “And that if he does a debate this early with candidates who are polling in the single digits, there’s no upside for him.”
Another motivation for Mr. Trump is revenge: The former president has a history with the two institutions hosting the first two Republican candidate debates.
Mr. Trump has told advisers that the second debate is a nonstarter for him because it will be held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The chairman of the library’s board of trustees, Frederick J. Ryan Jr., also serves as the publisher and chief executive officer of The Washington Post, a fact that Mr. Trump regularly brings up.
Mr. Trump is also sour that the Reagan library has invited numerous other leading Republicans to speak at its events over the past two years, including his presidential rival Mr. DeSantis, but has never extended an invitation to Mr. Trump, according to two people familiar with his thinking.
The library started a speakers series in 2021 called “Time for Choosing,” and invitees have included Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina; Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador; and, more recently, Mr. DeSantis. A spokesperson for the library said no former president has been included in the series.
One reason Mr. Trump may skip the first debate is its timing — he believes it’s too early, and has told aides he does not want to debate in August. Another reason is the host, Fox News. (read more)
Whether he does or whether he doesn’t, the big picture remains clear.
The Republican Party apparatus will attempt to use their leverage within the GOPe debates to weaken Donald Trump and enhance Ron DeSantis.
Trump does not need to debate anywhere. His record speaks for itself and no need to let the media or the RNC have any ammunition . He can do townhalls and the American public will be thrilled!
So true BUT his attention EGO will not let him follow that COURSE. In a way it does not matter since he loses no matter how many votes he gets? Election Fraud will preform at its best in 2024.
It’s an ugly thought but I agree that unless the swing states eliminate mail in ballots and ballot harvesting, and institute voter ID, how can any Republican win the Presidency?
President Trump is saying that in his view he is too far up in the polls for debates to make sense.
FYI, use of the term “EGO” is a Uniparty/Media generated talking point where there is no ego in play at all. We’re within a closing window to save our country. The situation is dire. President Trump is 100% focused on getting back into the white house.
Every single person who loves our country– without exception– needs to get in the arena. No time for hopelessness. It’s all hands on deck time. Keep on top of what is being done to save our country and jump in with both feet to help wherever you can —whether your part is donating or volunteering with election integrity effors, voter registration, legal ballot harvesting.
This or admit one doesn’t care and like Samuel Adams said (paraphrasing), go home in peace we need not your counsel, enjoy servitude within the descending totalitarian curtain.
Let Ronna and Fox twist in the wind, they don’t deserve to host President Trump. They need him a hell of a lot more than he needs them.
Good reply!
First of all, the debates are rigged. Allow real questions from Real American Voters. 2nd, President Trump is and has never been afraid of any debate, he and the public know they are rigged and he will still beat them because he is a fighter for TRUE American Justice for all. #SAVEAMERICA #NeverDeepStater like Bush’s and DeSantos. Let Americans learn from a good common sense debate!!!
You know, why can’t President Trump have his own open forum at the same time, as these faux extravaganza a debates, where he takes questions by himself or it is guided by a single moderator?
Open it to the public, in a YUGE venue, have it broadcast on alternate media, Rumble, FlashPoint, RSBN, Truth Social, GETTR…
Let’s see how their numbers stack up against C-SPAN and the MSM!!!
President Trump should use the basement approach except when he goes to rallies! Let Hunter and Mayorkas take the headlines and have huge rallies with his supporters in libuturd country! They will throw a gear.
I hope he has a rally every time a debate is scheduled that he won’t attend
Trump is a genius. Let the dregs burn themselves out first. They’ll say nothing. He wins the night from his couch. When he shows, he lets these midgets flail.
I’m done with the rnc. Trump doesn’t need them and I don’t trust them.
Where’s Elder, the idiot?
I will watch whatever President Trump does on debate night. Everything else is a side show.
I think he should hold a MAGA/America First debate, and invite only those candidates who fly the MAGA/AF flag. 😎😎😎
AND, how many DIMs would not hold debates in 2022? Like Delusional Joe said, they don’t need your votes. Especially when they can just tell the AP to announce they won and that is the end of the discussion.
NY times accidentally commits a journalism. PDJT wants to deprive the low polling challengers a massive audience – meaning the only reason anyone will tune in to their debates is to see him.
So Meatball Ron won’t bring them a massive audience?
Guess he’s not so popular after all.
Stuck their snouts in it this time. Here piggy, piggy.
There is a least one reason I believe President Trump should at some point publicly debate the other candidates.
He is a fearless fighter and has show the ability in the past to exploit his opponents weaknesses. He publicly, in live debates, made mincemeat out of Jeb Bush, Ted Cruze and Marco Rubio, who were all GOPe favorites and credible opponents.
I will never forget the public dressing down of Jeb Bush and the entire Bush family in one of the 2016 debates. He simply spoke the truth, about the Bush Dynasty to their faces, in their arena, with the crowd stacked with their (Bush) supporters. You could hear the crowd collectively gasp and then boo candidate Trump. He basically said what everyone knew, the Bush Family had no clothes on.
I believe President Trump will publically take on the strongest challengers in a live debate, and if necessary he will show them no mercy.
President Trump’s willingness and ability to fight is one of his finest qualities.
At this point, he doesn’t have anyone to fight. Being 40 points up, there’s no competition, no opponents to fight. Currently he is the defacto nominee.
I certainly agree that for now, President Trump has no real competition. I would be surprised if any of the current announced candidates are able to become a serious threat to him (I include DeSantis in this group).
Regardless of how “I” feel that President Trump should debate at some point in the primaries, I believe he will in fact participate in a live debate during the RNC primaries. He will debate irrespective of his lead and regardless of the chorus of cries from people suggesting he should not participate.
The debates are on Faux. I wont watch. I will do nothing to support the Fake News Channel,
I already know what President Trump will say. I don’t care about any of the others, except Vivek Ramaswamy
It might be fun to see Trump and Vivek out Trump each other. 🙂
That’s a hard NO for #MeToo.
Debate? What is there to debate? The only question that remains to be answered is how are they going to stop Team Trump this time Any odds on another pandemic scare? Honestly folks talking time is over and action time is here. Where are the AGs in the red states who will indict Obama and Biden now that open season on current and past presidents has been declared?
WHO just ended the CHINA VIRUS “emergency”.
I do not watch Fox News. President Trump should not participate in a Fake Debate that is an interview by biased clowns.
Go to the Internet. To hell with Paul Ryan, the Murdoch Girls, and Fox News.
Think of the hours we can save by not watching these set-up debates. It’s show biz for ugly questioners / protagonists.