The New York Times reports:
Former President Donald J. Trump plans to upstage the first Republican primary debate on Wednesday by sitting for an online interview with the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, according to multiple people briefed on the matter.
In the past 24 hours, Mr. Trump has told people close to him that he has made up his mind and will skip the debate in Milwaukee, according to two of the people briefed on the matter.
For weeks, the former president has been quizzing aides, associates and rally crowds about what he should do. Until earlier this week, Mr. Trump had been giving people the impression he was considering a last-minute surprise appearance on Wednesday.
Read the full article.
NEW: Trump is planning to upstage the RNC debate next week with an interview with Tucker Carlson and has told people close to him in last 24 hours he’s made up his mind to skip the debate. @jonathanvswan me https://t.co/aufO0ujvJY
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 18, 2023
2. In a January 4, 2021 text to two members of his staff, Carlson said he “truly can’t wait” for Trump to leave office because “I hate him passionately.”
In a January 7, 2021 text to his producer, Alex Pfeiffer, Carlson called Trump a “demonic force” and “a destroyer.”
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) March 9, 2023