Sending in the surrogates hit a snag Monday for former President Donald Trump as a reported ban from the debate was met with mixed reaction.
Over the weekend, the president made clear that he would not be participating in the first GOP primary debate and the subsequent debates based on his poll numbers. In his stead, the one-time commander-in-chief sought to dispatch the likes of his son Donald Trump Jr., Florida Reps. Byron Donalds and Matt Gaetz, as well as campaign firebrand Kari Lake to serve up his message in the spin rooms.
Their participation was in doubt late Monday when CNN’s Alayna Treene had posted in a since deleted tweet, “NEW: Fox News, which is hosting the first GOP primary debate, informed the Trump campaign today they will no longer allow surrogates for the former president to attend the debate in Milwaukee given Trump is not planning on participating, 3 sources with direct knowledge tell @CNN.”
Her removal of the post came with a clarification that the cable news network with exclusive rights to air the debate “will no longer provide credentials to some Trump surrogates to attend the spin room given Trump is not planning on participating.”
Deleted a previous tweet to clarify my reporting:
Fox News, which is hosting the first GOP primary debate, informed the Trump campaign on Monday they will no longer provide credentials to some Trump surrogates to attend the spin room given Trump is not planning on participating— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) August 22, 2023
Treene noted “Some of Trump’s surrogates are credentialed through outside media groups and will not be impacted.”
“Members of Trump’s campaign, including his senior advisers were also planning on being in the spin room. But Fox News is in charge of credentials for the spin room. The RNC manages credentials for the actual debate, and sources said those tickets are still expected [to] be honored,” the political reporter went on before adding, “Members of Trump’s teams and his surrogates, however, are still planning on traveling to Milwaukee and are working on a resolution with the network as well as the RNC, two Trump advisers told CNN.”
Members of Trump’s teams and his surrogates, however, are still planning on traveling to Milwaukee and are working on a resolution with the network as well as the RNC, two Trump advisers told CNN
— Alayna Treene (@alaynatreene) August 22, 2023
The sparring factions of supporters wasted no time weighing in with those backing the president calling out Fox News and contending they were set on smearing Trump.
“We told you Fox News only wanted Trump at the debate to sabotage him…As soon as Trump confirms he’s not going, Fox News bars his surrogates from attending…They want to smear him without anyone there to defend him,” suggested one while others made note of the president’s decision to do an interview with former primetime host Tucker Carlson instead.
We told you Fox News only wanted Trump at the debate to sabotage him
As soon as Trump confirms he’s not going, Fox News bars his surrogates from attending
They want to smear him without anyone there to defend him
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) August 22, 2023
loser Paul Ryan behind the scenes
— JD (@jstndoyle) August 22, 2023
They’re pissed because their evil little plan Blew up in their face & Trump/Tucker WIN
— ULTRA MAGA_TrumPatriot (@EMB_MAGA_2024) August 22, 2023
Fox News showing their colors…yellow=Cowards
— Stephanie⚖️ (@Stephan54769336) August 22, 2023
MSNBC would never do this to a top Democrat https://t.co/LzqQXPx5GL
— James David Dickson (@downi75) August 22, 2023
From the other side of the argument, reactions were thrilled at the decision by Fox News believing that Trump’s decision not to attend should be all-encompassing and that if he wanted to have his campaign represented that he should have agreed to participate.
“I’m shocked! Fox News actually got a backbone,” quipped one while another sniped, “Does that mean that Vivek Nikki And Scott…Cannot participate.”
I’m shocked! Fox News actually got a backbone.
— E. Perez (@eplatina9) August 22, 2023
Does that mean that
Vivek
Nikki
And
ScottCannot participate.
— The Doctor (@TennantRob) August 22, 2023
I guess we’re finally learning. https://t.co/vRXffXY9pC
— Stephen L. Miller (@redsteeze) August 22, 2023
Trump thought he could be cute and have his interview with Tucker drop at the same time as the debate and Fox just pulled the rug out from under him.
— Jeff Palkevich (@palkevich) August 22, 2023
However, with time remaining until the debate went live, others remained in doubt that the ban would last and that RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel would grant the request of the surrogates.
Oh absolutely. She’s going to force it.
— Dan Goldwasser (@dgoldwas) August 22, 2023
Native of Brooklyn, NY, Kevin Haggerty is a graduate of Hunter College where he studied Cultural Anthropology and Geography. An avid reader and truth seeker, he currently resides in Texas with his wife and their dog and, when he isn't researching current events and their impacts, you'll find him spending time with friends and family or working on his next novel.
- ‘My heart can’t handle this’: World is touched by gripping story of band of dogs who escaped meat factory in China - March 25, 2026
- Michigan father sues school after they file a ‘no trespass’ order against him for exposing giant PRIDE flag - March 25, 2026
- Co-hosts squash Whoopi Goldberg’s argument that she already shows ID to vote - March 25, 2026
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.