Originally published August 23, 2023 9:37 am PDT
President Donald Trump has chosen to forgo the upcoming GOP primary debate on Fox News in favor of an exclusive interview on former Fox News host Tucker Carlson’s Twitter channel Wednesday night.
You can watch the interview here:
Within 15 minutes, the interview already garnered 21.6 million views.
Trump’s choice to skip Fox’s debate has generated significant buzz in political and media circles.
The former President took to his social media platform Truth Social to confirm his decision, stating earlier in the day, “MY INTERVIEW WITH TUCKER CARLSON WILL BE AIRED TONIGHT AT 9:00 P.M.”
He followed with a hint of anticipation, saying, “‘SPARKS WILL FLY.’ ENJOY!”
For weeks, there has been widespread speculation about the move, and it seems the public had already widely accepted his decision.
Prominent figures within conservative circles, encompassing politicians, commentators, and internet influencers, have indicated their intent to tune into the “Trump & Tucker” segment rather than the GOP primary debates.
This sentiment is echoed on social media platforms, with “Trump & Tucker” trending on Twitter, a report from RSBN points out.
Thousands have voiced their support, applauding the former President’s choice.
The former President’s sit-down with Carlson was released Wednesday night, just as the Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee is set to begin on Fox News.
Trump holds a 44-point lead over second place, held by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, ahead of the first GOP debate, according to a recent Morning Consult poll.
“Former President Donald Trump began his presidential campaign with the bulk of the Republican electorate behind him, and a number of contenders are looking to put his grip to the test ahead of the 2024 nominating contests,” Morning Consult notes.
“The former president is beating DeSantis by 44 percentage points among potential Republican primary voters (58% to 14%) ahead of the first GOP presidential debate, marking one of the Florida governor’s lowest levels of support since we began tracking the race in December.”
