During the weekend, Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican presidential contender, expressed his acceptance of former President Donald Trump’s decision to skip the initial primary debates.
This marks a change in his viewpoint from earlier this year when he stated that Trump’s absence would indicate a transformation in his candidacy. On Saturday, Ramaswamy affirmed his comfort with Trump’s non-participation in the initial debates.
“This is my chance to introduce myself to the country & so I have no issue with whatever decision he wants to make,” Ramaswamy said, according to a Semafor reporter. “If he’s on there, great. If not, I’m fine with that.”
Upon listening to a series of recent remarks made by Ramaswamy, a different journalist shared a video clip from May 5 in which Ramaswamy expressed his anticipation that Trump would take part.
“I fully expect to see Donald Trump on that debate stage,” he said at the time. “It is my expectation Trump will be there because as I’ve known him he’s not a man that I know of to be afraid. He’s not somebody who’s made a habit of himself to be a coward.
“But if he doesn’t show up on that debate stage, that will be the best proof that the Donald Trump of today is not the same Donald Trump as in 2016.”
In reaction to the remarks made on Saturday, Ramaswamy’s campaign replied, informing Fox News that these comments do not represent a change from his earlier stance. Communications director Tricia McLaughlin stated, “This is just one of the debates.”
On the other hand, Trump has not yet confirmed his participation in the inaugural GOP debate hosted by Fox News, scheduled for Wednesday, August 23rd, in Milwaukee.
The Republican National Committee, the organizer for all the presidential primary debates, requires that all candidates pledge to support the GOP’s eventual presidential nominee, in a pledge which reads, “I affirm that if I do not win the 2024 Republican nomination of President of the United States, I will honor the will of the primary voters and support the nominee in order to save our country and beat Joe Biden.”
Furthermore, the candidates are also required to commit to not running as an independent, a write-in candidate, or a nominee from a third-party.
As of now, Trump has declined to put his signature on the pledge.
“Why would I sign it?” Trump said in an interview earlier this month. “I can name three or four people that I wouldn’t support for president. So, right there, there’s a problem.”
