According to a new report from the New York Times, former President Donald J. Trump plans to upstage the first Republican primary debate on Wednesday by hosting an online interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
According to people briefed on the matter, Mr. Trump informed people close to him that he will skip the debate in Milwaukee in the next 24 hours.
It is unclear when the interview with Mr. Carlson will take place, but if it goes ahead as planned, then the debate-night counter-programming will constitute an open act of hostility.
Both publicly and privately, Fox News executives and personalities have lobbied the former president to participate in the debate.
However, Mr. Trump has been publicly attacking Fox and privately venting his animosity toward Rupert Murdoch, the network’s owner.
In the wake of his fourth criminal indictment, Mr. Trump appears to have decided to skip the debate.
Mr. Trump was charged with participating in a criminal conspiracy to subvert the transfer of power after he lost the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia.
