Donald Trump Calls for Cancellation of Future Republican Debates After Declining to Attend

22

The campaign team of Donald Trump is urging the Republican National Committee (RNC) to discontinue any forthcoming presidential primary debates. The campaign advises that the RNC should instead concentrate its resources on defeating Joe Biden in the subsequent election year.

Late on Monday, key advisers to Trump reiterated discredited claims concerning electoral malfeasance, making unsubstantiated allegations that Democrats aim to illegitimately win the 2024 election. Despite exhaustive legal scrutiny, investigations, and even his own attorney general finding no evidence of fraud, Trump continues to assert that the 2020 election was unlawfully taken from him.

Senior campaign strategists Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita have recommended that both the debate scheduled for November in Miami and any succeeding debates be canceled. They argue that failing to do so would indicate to the grassroots base that their apprehensions about electoral integrity are not being earnestly considered, accusing national Republicans of prioritizing aid to Joe Biden over securing a reliable and trustworthy election.

While Donald Trump faces a civil fraud trial in New York this week over allegations that he inflated the worth of his business ventures—a case he contends is driven by political motives—the RNC remained silent, not commenting on the matter on either Monday or Tuesday.

A spokesperson for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis countered the call from Trump’s campaign to cancel future debates. The spokesperson, Bryan Griffin, stated that the nation “requires a president willing to defend their policies in any setting.” During the second debate, DeSantis had accused Trump of being reluctant to defend his fiscal record, particularly concerning the national debt.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel sidestepped a question about Trump’s request to terminate future debates during a recent media call about the launch of the “Bank Your Vote” initiative in New York. This new program, rolled out nationwide by the GOP, promotes early and mail-in voting—a practice that Democrats have long supported but which some Republicans, including Trump, have questioned.

McDaniel also downplayed Trump’s ongoing skepticism about early voting, despite his participation in a video promoting the “Bank Your Vote” campaign. “We must engage in these battles, but also recognize that the established rules on election day are the ones we must adhere to, and President Trump fully supports this,” she commented.

The reporting was contributed by Burnett from Chicago, with additional contributions from Big Big News reporters Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price, based in New York.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Donald Trump campaign cancels debates

More about Donald Trump campaign cancels debates

• Donald Trump’s call to cancel Republican debates
• Republican National Committee’s stance on debates
• Election Fraud Claims: Facts and Debunking
• Civil Fraud Trial Against Donald Trump in New York
• Ron DeSantis’ Response to Trump’s Debate Cancellation Request
• RNC’s “Bank Your Vote” Initiative
• Legal Scrutiny of the 2020 Presidential Election