Politics
REPORT: Trump May Counter Program First GOP Debate With Tucker Carlson Interview
Former President Trump has hinted that he may be sitting down for a one-on-one interview with Tucker Carlson on the same night as the first GOP debate, which is set to take place next month.
Trump has formerly hinted that he would be holding a “competing event” during the first scheduled debate, which is set to be hosted by Fox News on August 23. To date, seven candidates in the crowded Republican field have met necessary requirements to participate, which include fundraising criteria of 40,000 unique donors, with at least 200 unique contributors from 20 or more states and territories. Candidates must also poll above one percent in at least two national polls.
Qualified candidates include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Senator Tim Scott (R-SC), former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.
Former President Trump has also qualified, but he has previously hinted that he will not participate in favor of a “competing event.”
“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,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post last month. “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?”
Now, in a new social media post, the former president has provided insight into what a competing event might look like. In response to a Truth Social user who suggested a one-on-one interview with Carlson, Trump wrote, “Interesting? So many people have suggested this!”
The post follows a report from Vanity Fair that claimed Trump is planning to counter program the debate by appearing on Carlson’s wildly popular Twitter show. One unnamed source told the outlet that Trump approached Carlson about booking the interview, though no decisions have been finalized as of this time.