Staff Reports
Former President Donald Trump was approached by Fox News executives during a dinner at his posh golf club in New Jersey to persuade him to participate in the Republican presidential debate. The dinner was attended by Jay Wallace, the president of Fox News, and Suzanne Scott, the CEO of the network. Trump has previously stated that he will not be attending the first GOP primary debate, but it seems that Fox News is determined to change his mind.
It’s no secret that Trump has had some issues with Fox News in the past. He has been particularly frustrated with Bret Baier, one of the anchors set to moderate the debate. Trump even went as far as calling Baier “nasty” after a recent interview. This tension might be one of the reasons why Trump is hesitant to commit to the debate, as he fears it might give his primary opponents an opportunity to attack him.
BREAKING: Fox News Execs Press Trump to Join Republican Presidential Debate https://t.co/FSxSTiQqZ9
— The Daily Fetched (@DailyFetched) August 2, 2023
The dinner between Trump and the Fox News executives was described as “cordial,” but it remains to be seen whether their persuasion tactics will work. One Trump adviser told CNN that participating in the debate would be “stupid” considering Trump’s lead in the polls. It’s clear that Trump’s team believes he has nothing to gain from the debate and everything to lose.
In addition to his reluctance to attend the debate, Trump has also been critical of Fox News and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. He accused Murdoch of denying the existence of election fraud despite evidence of “stuffed ballots” and the silencing of information. This attack on Murdoch came as Dominion Voting Systems filed a $1.6 billion lawsuit against Fox News for allegedly defaming its voting technology by allowing Trump to spread his claims.
Overall, it seems that Trump is not inclined to participate in the first GOP debate, and Fox News is pulling out all the stops to change his mind. It will be interesting to see how this situation unfolds and whether Trump’s absence will have any impact on the debate and the Republican primary race. One thing is for sure, Trump’s influence in the party is still strong, and his decisions will continue to shape the course of the 2024 election.
