Showing disrespect for Republican primary voters, former President Trump announced Sunday night that he would not be attending the first Republican primary debate later in the week with reports suggesting he was planning to counterprogram the event with an interview with Tucker Carlson. ABC’s Good Morning America and CBS Mornings welcomed the internal party drama on Monday as they hyped Trump’s attempt to upstage the GOP debate.
“Donald Trump has been back and forth on this. With just 48 hours to go, the former President clear he will not only skip the first Republican debate but even suggesting he might sit out future debates, too,” boasted senior congressional correspondent Rachel Scott.
In the video portion of her report, she reiterated Trump’s intent to avoid the debate and promoted his counterprogramming initiative:
This morning, Donald Trump is out, announcing he will not participate in the first Republican debate Wednesday writing: “The public knows who I am and what a successful presidency I had. I will, therefore, not be doing the debates.”
(…)
Trump still holds a commanding lead over his rivals and now plans to counterprogram the debate. Sources tell ABC News the former President already taped an interview with conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson.
In much the same way, CBS Mornings co-host Tony Dokoupil noted, “Donald Trump is saying he will not appear in the first Republican debate this week. And in fact, he may not appear in any of the debates during the Republican primary.”
Dokoupil proclaimed the findings of a new CBS News/YouGov poll “might help explain why” Trump decided to avoid facing his primary challengers. “Our survey found 62 percent of likely primary voters support Donald Trump. Governor Ron DeSantis is second, just 16 percent in his column. Others in single digits,” he claimed.
It’s worth noting that the margin of error was 5.7 percent. While the math might make it seem as though things were still pretty stable in terms of candidate positioning, the high MoE meant there was a fundamental problem in how the poll was conducted.
But CBS chief elections and campaign correspondent Robert Costa followed up on Dokoupil’s notes about Trump ditching the debate by promoting his alternative plans.
“The former President did confirm in a social media post last night he plans to skip the debate and may have some counterprogramming planned for Wednesday. He has prerecorded an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, and that could run while his opponents are squaring off,” he reported.
While NBC’s Today didn’t take part in promoting Trump’s attempt to upstage the GOP debate, they did push the false narrative that Florida governor and Republican presidential candidate, Ron DeSantis smeared Trump voters as “listless vessels.”
It was the same false narrative that CNN was called out on Sunday for using.
These broadcast networks promoting the former President’s attempt to upstage the GOP debate was made possible because of lucrative sponsorships from CVS on ABC and Progressive on CBS. Their contact information is linked.
The transcript is below, click "expand" to read:
ABC’s Good Morning America
August 21, 2023
7:11:05 a.m. EasternGEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS: To politics now and the first Republican debate of the 2024 race. Former President Trump has announced that he will not attend as his rivals prep for their first big outing. Rachel Scott is tracking the race from Washington. Good morning, Rachel.
RACHEL SCOTT: George, good morning to you. And Donald Trump has been back and forth on this. With just 48 hours to go, the former President clear he will not only skip the first Republican debate, but even suggesting he might sit out future debates, too.
[Cuts to video]
This morning, Donald Trump is out, announcing he will not participate in the first Republican debate Wednesday writing: “The public knows who I am and what a successful presidency I had. I will, therefore, not be doing the debates.”
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie calling him a coward.
CHRIS CHRISTIE (R): If he's not tough enough and honest enough and smart enough to stand on the same stage with me and debate these issues, then it's time to go back to Mar-a-Lago and retire.
SCOTT: Trump still holds a commanding lead over his rivals and now plans to counterprogram the debate. Sources tell ABC News the former President already taped an interview with conservative talk show host Tucker Carlson.
(…)
CBS Mornings
August 21, 2023
7:09:55 a.m. EasternTONY DOKOUPIL: And in other news, Donald Trump is saying he will not appear in the first Republican debate this week. And in fact, he may not appear in any of the debates during the Republican primary. The latest CBS News poll might help explain why.
According to that poll, the former President has a gigantic lead over his challengers. Our survey found 62 percent of likely primary voters support Donald Trump. Governor Ron DeSantis is second, just 16 percent in his column. Others in single digits.
Robert Costa is tracking the race for us. Bob, good morning.
ROBERT COSTA: Good morning, Tony. The former President did confirm in a social media post last night he plans to skip the debate and may have some counterprogramming planned for Wednesday. He has prerecorded an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, and that could run while his opponents are squaring off.
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