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Former President Donald Trump’s campaign called Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate “boring and inconsequential” and urged the Republican National Committee not to hold any more primary debates.
Mr. Trump once again decided to sit out the debate, which his campaign said rendered the event pointless.
“Tonight’s GOP debate was as boring and inconsequential as the first debate, and nothing that was said will change the dynamics of the primary contest being dominated by President Trump,” campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita said in a statement.
Mr. LaCivita noted Mr. Trump’s large lead in the polls over the other GOP hopefuls and President Biden, adding that “it’s clear that President Trump alone can defeat Biden.”
“The RNC should immediately put an end to any further primary debates so we can train our fire on Crooked Joe Biden and quit wasting time and money that could be going to evicting Biden from the White House.”
Mr. Trump has skipped both of the Republican primary debates. For the first one, which was held in Milwaukee, the former president opted instead for an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that was posted on X around the same time that the debate started.
This time, he was delivering a speech to autoworkers in Detroit as the debate got underway.
Mr. Trump announced this month that he would not be participating in Wednesday’s debate. Both times he cited his big lead in the polls as the reason for his absence.
The candidates on stage took aim at Mr. Trump for missing the second debate.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie accused Mr. Trump of being afraid “of being on this stage and defending your record,” adding that if he keeps “ducking” the debates, the other candidate hopefuls will start calling him “Donald Duck.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis also called out Mr. Trump, saying that he was “missing in action.”
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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