In a significant development, Tucker Carlson, formerly the host of Fox’s highest-rated news show, is slated to moderate the first GOP Presidential Candidate Forum for the 2024 election cycle. According to The Daily Wire, the forum is scheduled to take place this Friday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
According to The Daily Wire, the event is scheduled to take place this Friday at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.
One notable absence at this significant gathering will be former President Donald J. Trump.
The roster for the GOP forum consists of former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
The diverse group of candidates aims to highlight the wide range of conservative ideas and leadership styles within the Republican Party.
Bob Vander Plaats, CEO of the Iowa-based organization The FAMiLY Leader and an evangelical leader, will be hosting the event. In a tweet, Plaats revealed, “Last night, I received confirmation that @realDonaldTrump will NOT be present at our Leadership Summit this Friday.”
I learned last night that @realDonaldTrump will NOT attend our Leadership Summit this Friday. Thus, our lineup is set: @votetimscott @AsaHutchinson @Mike_Pence @NikkiHaley @VivekGRamaswamy and @RonDeSantis will have visionary, one on one, discussion with @TuckerCarlson #FLS23…
— Bob Vander Plaats (@bobvanderplaats) July 11, 2023
According to Mediaite, a spokesperson for Trump stated that the ex-president’s absence was due to a “scheduling conflict” arising from a prior commitment to deliver a speech at the Turning Point Action conference.
The forum, organized by Tucker Carlson, is anticipated to serve as a significant platform for Republican presidential candidates to present their policy stances and their vision for the future of America.
Carlson said in a statement: “There’s a lot of conversation about the future of the Republican Party and I think part of that will be working out exactly what populism is.”
Tucker added, “We’re going to go down the list. What about foreign wars, what about the idea that maybe the middle class ought to be at the very center of our economy?”
Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, a first-generation American entrepreneur, expressed gratitude for the event saying, “I’m excited for it. I think it’s a good chance to have a discussion about ideas, to have a substantive discussion.”
HuffPost’s report highlights an intriguing development regarding Tucker Carlson’s role as the host of the GOP forum and the noticeable absence of Trump, which is noteworthy given the former President’s strong standing in the polls and previous criticisms of Fox News debates.
As the 2024 election cycle gains momentum, this forum serves as a reminder of the wide range of ideas and leadership approaches present within the Republican Party. The event not only emphasizes the importance of Iowa in shaping the nation’s political conversation but also indicates the growing influence of political commentators in this process.
