Trump: I Won’t Take Part In Debates, I Won’t Be Libeled

Posted today to Trump’s Truth Social account:

I see that everybody is talking about the Republican Debates, but nobody got my approval, or the approval of the Trump Campaign, before announcing them. When you’re leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have hostile Networks with angry, TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the “questions,” why subject yourself to being libeled and abused? Also, the Second Debate is being held at the Reagan Library, the Chairman of which is, amazingly, Fred Ryan, Publisher of The Washington Post. NO!

Last month RNC chairman Ronna McDaniel said that in order to participate in sanctioned debates, candidates must pledge to support the eventual nominee. Trump, of course, would never agree to such a stipulation.

Folks wanted a loyalty pledge that basically only benefits the candidate who’s now intimating he may be skipping debates pic.twitter.com/guwlyRA8v3

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 25, 2023