Former President Donald Trump has suggested he may skip the first Republican primary debate on August 23 and instead hold a counter-programming event. In a phone interview with Reuters, Trump said he was considering a rally or an interview with another outlet, claiming the debate would not be exciting without him.
Trump cited his feud with Fox News, the debate host, calling it a 'hostile network.' He also questioned the value of debating rivals like Chris Christie, who polls at 1 percent support, while Trump leads with 56 percent according to a recent Fox News poll.
The former president faces a crowded field including his former Vice President Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, and Ron DeSantis, who trails Trump by 34 points. Trump's potential absence has drawn criticism from Christie, who accused him of fearing the debate stage.
