In order to support his claims that it was not worthwhile for him to debate his opponents for the Republican presidential nomination, former President Donald J. Trump reportedly held a campaign event on Thursday in New Hampshire.
Trump appeared to trying to position himself as the party’s inevitable nominee.
Months before any voting would take place, Mr. Trump claimed to hold a commanding lead in the 2024 Republican primary while addressing a crowd of few hundred supporters in a New England state that served as a launchpad for his win in 2016. On his social media platform, Truth Social, he has been discussing related subjects.
Trump says that no one got his "approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign" before announcing the RNC Primary Debates, and says NO to the current plan. pic.twitter.com/K5GFrhElrr
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 25, 2023
Giving his G.O.P. opponents, like Governor Ron DeSantis, an opening on a debate platform, he claimed, was pointless.
“Why would you do that?” Trump said to the crowd.
Trump has a history of making threats to miss debates, and on occasion has actually done so.
Conservatives commentators on social media spoke out against the idea, with some even accusing Trump of showing cowardice in refusing to debate DeSantis:
I hate to break it to Team Trump, but there's going to be a competitive primary, you're not going to walk to the nomination, and if you want your guy to win he will need to defend his record in debates
— Will Chamberlain (@willchamberlain) April 27, 2023
Trump is afraid to debate DeSantis and already making excuses for why he will lose.
To all the MAGA faithful out there…."Is this your king?"
Your hero is a wimp. He's a coward. pic.twitter.com/QJSboQRRBp
— Free (@KaladinFree) April 26, 2023
What made Trump a phenomenon was his ability to debate, mock, and make anyone look bad on the stage. But the confident Trump of 2016 is gone. You've now got a Trump who is terrified of being challenged on his record and running scared of debates because he knows he's vulnerable. pic.twitter.com/8tAjr7fLu1
— Pedro L. Gonzalez (@emeriticus) April 25, 2023
[READ MORE: Lawmakers Clear Path for DeSantis to Run for President]
