Former President Donald Trump is considering skipping the first GOP presidential debate and holding a separate event at the same time in August, according to people familiar with his deliberations who spoke with NBC News.
"He is not going to debate unless he's forced to by changing polling," said a person who has encouraged Trump to participate in the GOP event. "I disagree with it, but it is where he is."
The report comes a day after Trump complained on Truth Social that Fox News did not cover his recent speech in Michigan or his address to the Faith & Freedom Coalition Conference in Washington, D.C.
"So FoxNews, which is down 37% in the Ratings, doesn't cover my getting the "Man of the Decade" Award (because of my great trade policies!) in Michigan, or my Keynote Speech for Faith & Freedom in D.C., and then wants me to show up and get them ratings for their "Presidential" Debate, where I'm leading the field by 40 points," Trump said.
"All they do is promote, against all hope, Ron DeSanctimonious, and he's dropping like a rock. Sorry FoxNews, life doesn't work that way!!"
One adviser told NBC that Trump has shopped opinions with "everyone and will get, like, 100 different opinions.
"He wants to know what everyone thinks but will ultimately do what he wants to do. In general, he is asking everyone, from the bellman to [RNC Chair] Ronna McDaniel."
Trump hasn't made a final decision, the adviser said, "but if he does not debate, I doubt he's staying home."
Newsmax reached out to the Trump campaign about the NBC report but has not heard back.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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