Trump to skip first Republican primary as his lead over rivals grows – live | US politics #Trump #skip #Republican #primary #lead #rivals #grows #live #politics

Hugo Lowell

Donald Trump’s team has two overarching priorities for the first Republican primary debate on Wednesday, according to several sources briefed on the situation: to starve the other Republican presidential candidates of attention, and to publicly humiliate Fox News, which is hosting the event with the RNC, because he has been displeased with some of its recent coverage.

The former president has told allies he intends to shun the event and that his sit-down interview with the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which he taped in recent days, could be released around the same time.

Trump had also considered swaggering into the debate at the last minute – without prior warning – betting that would almost certainly cause the news coverage to be about his surprise visit and not the other candidates’ answers. But he has since soured on that option, people briefed on the matter said.

The Trump team had explored whether Trump could do the ultimate counter-programming by scheduling his surrender to authorities, after the Fulton county district attorney charged him with conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, to take place at the same time.

But even though the political team had pushed for him to be booked at the Fulton county jail on Wednesday, his legal team has been opposed. Trump’s lawyers thought Thursday was a more realistic option and intend to finalize logistics with the district attorney’s office on Monday, the people said.

Good morning, US politics blog readers. In a post on Truth Social on Sunday, Donald Trump confirmed he will skip the first GOP primary debate on Wednesday, amid reports he is weighing up several options in an attempt to upstage the opening event in the Republican party’s nominating contest.

“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had,” the former president wrote on his social media platform.

I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES.”

For weeks, Trump has asked his aides privately and rally crowds publicly whether he should attend the debate or engage in counter-programming efforts in a boastful display of his political strength even after being criminally charged four times. The response has overwhelmingly been for him to skip the debate.

A CBS poll released on Sunday showed Trump holding his largest lead over his rivals despite his recent legal troubles. The former president was the preferred candidate for 62% of Republican voters. His closest rival, Florida governor Ron DeSantis, was at 16%. All the other candidates were in single digits.

The GOP frontrunner’s absence from the stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday creates a new layer of challenges for the other candidates, who will aim to use the debate a chance to pitch themselves as the main alternative to Trump.

To qualify for the 23 August debate, candidates need to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the Republican national committee (RNC). They must have reached at least 1% in three high-quality national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls, between 1 July and 21 August, and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states. Candidates must also sign a pledge promising to support the party’s ultimate nominee.

So far, the candidates expected to appear on Wednesday are DeSantis, South Carolina senator Tim Scott, former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, North Dakota governor Doug Burgum and former vice-president Mike Pence.

Here’s what else we’re watching today:

• 11.40am eastern time. President Joe Biden and the first lady, Jill Biden, will depart Reno, Nevada, to travel to Maui, Hawaii, arriving at 5.10pm. They will meet with federal, state and local leaders; see the damage from wildfires and recovery efforts; and meet with survivors and first responders.

• 12.15pm. Attorney General Merrick Garland will travel to Fargo, North Dakota, to visit the US attorney’s office for the district of North Dakota and meet with federal, state and local law enforcement leaders.

• 11.25pm. The Bidens will leave Maui to return to Reno.

• The Senate and House are out.