Trump to Rivals: ‘Why Debate? I’m Already Winning the Popularity Contest

Donald Trump announced on Sunday that he will not be taking part in the upcoming Republican presidential debate this week. He said that since Americans are well familiar with him, he does not see the need for a public bashing of his rivals for the presidency. Making this statement on his platform, Truth Social, Trump showed how successful he was as a president and how popular he is among the people of the United States.

“I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!” He said. The first debate to decide the 2024 Republican presidential nomination is slated to take place next Wednesday in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Trump pointed out in his post that he’s leading the Republican field by a hefty margin, as indicated in several polls, including one published Sunday by CBS News. According to the poll, 62 percent of those surveyed would vote for him even though he has faced four indictments this year. They include allegations of attempts to undo the 2020 election and remain in power despite losing to Joe Biden.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is Trump’s closest competitor in the CBS poll, with 16 percent support. The rest of the candidates are polling with single-digit numbers.

Trump took a shot at DeSantis, saying he’s “crashing like an ailing bird.” He stressed that the public recognized his accomplishments during his presidency. Citing achievements in areas such as energy, border security, the military, and the economy, among others.