Donald Trump, the former president, is presently facing four criminal charges. Despite this, he is positioning himself as the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination for president. To counter the impending Republican debate, which will be moderated by Fox News, Trump plans to engage in an extensive media campaign, including numerous appearances on cable news and an interview with Tucker Carlson, a former prominent Fox News personality.

CNN reports that, according to sources close to the Trump campaign, the former president and his advisors are presently discussing potential counterprogramming strategies designed to divert attention away from the upcoming Fox News debate in Milwaukee.

“Conversations regarding a potential interview with Carlson have taken place with Trump’s team, but there is no definitive plan for him to do that as of now, they say,” according to Alayna Treene for CNN. “Trump has privately and publicly floated skipping either one or both of the first two Republican presidential primary debates and has repeatedly pointed to his commanding lead in the polls as one reason he is hesitant to share the stage with his GOP challengers.”

Trump hasn’t prepared for the debate and doesn’t need to, according to one of Treene’s sources. “There’s always a chance he may ultimately decide to participate at the 11th hour,” she continued.

Mediaite announced:

Trump’s advisers are reportedly interested in having the former president’s allies such as Kari Lake and Florida GOP Congressmen Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz attend the debate and work the propaganda room on his behalf if he doesn’t appear. It is unclear whether Fox News will permit this if Trump doesn’t appear.

Even after Fox News president Jay Wallace and chief executive Suzanne Scott reportedly met with him and pleaded with him to take part in the August 23rd debate, Trump has brazenly hinted for months that he will not participate.

Trump indicated last month that he might have a private conversation with Tucker Carlson on the evening of the first Republican primary debate.

In addition to Trump, the first presidential debate will feature former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Senator Tim Scott, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, and former vice president Mike Pence.

More on this story via The Republic Brief:

According to a Vanity Fair article, Trump intends to use his appearance on Carlson’s well-liked Twitter show to counterprogram the GOP primary discussion. CONTINUE READING…