23 Aug 2023
Eight Republicans qualified for the first debate of the presidential primary for the 2024 election.
Donald Trump bailed on the Republican presidential debate for Tucker Carlson. These were the key moments
He might be the frontrunner to be the next Republican presidential nominee to run against Joe Biden next year.
But Donald Trump decided to skip the first televised debate against his Republican rivals, instead giving an interview to ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
Carlson posted the interview just minutes before the debate began on his X account (formerly Twitter).
Eight candidates qualified for a spot on the stage, including Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN ambassador Nikki Haley, former vice-president Mike Pence, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
The rival events come just hours before Trump is due to report to Fulton County Jail to be arrested for the fourth time this year.
Earlier this month, he and several of his allies were charged with allegedly interfering in the 2020 election in the US state of Georgia.
While his challengers tried to keep the debate focused on issues including abortion, the war in Ukraine and the economy, it soon turned into a fierce argument over Trump.
These were the key moments from the debate — and Trump's interview with Carlson.
Trump began the interview by sinking the boot into Fox News
Not only did Trump eschew tradition by snubbing the GOP debate, he also eschewed traditional media – and broadcaster Fox News in particular – by agreeing to an "alternative" interview broadcast on X.
Carlson began the interview by asking Trump why he wasn't taking part in the debate.
Trump said it didn't make sense to debate people who were so far behind him in the polls.
"Do I sit there for an hour or two hours, whatever it's going to be, and get harassed by people that shouldn't even be running for president?" he said
"And a network that isn't particularly friendly to me, frankly.
"You know, they were backing Ron DeSanctimonious like crazy and now they've given up on him."
Trump went on to criticise multiple networks before returning to Fox News, telling Carlson: "I think it was a terrible move getting rid of you."
Carlson was Fox News' top-rating talent until he was dumped earlier this year, in circumstances that have never been completely explained.
"You were number one on television and all of a sudden we're doing this interview, but we'll get bigger ratings using this crazy forum that you're using than probably the debate."
Carlson has been warned by Fox previously that his Twitter talk show is a breach of his contract.
He uploaded the interview five minutes before Fox News' live broadcast of the debate began.