Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced he will not participate in the upcoming Republican primary debates, citing his commanding lead in opinion polls as testament to his widespread recognition and popularity among voters in anticipation of the 2024 election.

Trump’s inclination to bypass the Wednesday night debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had been a subject of speculation for months. He has consistently maintained that allowing his Republican competitors a platform to challenge him would be futile, given his substantial advantage in national polls.

A recent CBS poll unveiled on Sunday revealed Trump’s hold on the party, with 62% of Republican voters expressing their preference for him. His nearest contender, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, trails behind with a mere 16% support. All other candidates vying for the primary nomination struggled to attain double-digit support.

“The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had. I will therefore not be doing the debates,” Trump said on his own social media app, Truth Social.

Sources revealed that Trump engaged in a recorded conversation with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, slated for release online on Wednesday. However, the exact platform for the interview’s publication remains unclear.

Trump’s absence from this pivotal debate could potentially pivot the spotlight towards DeSantis, making him the focal point for attacks launched by fellow candidates striving to position themselves as the primary alternative to the former president.

The ultimate victor of the Republican nomination race will be poised to challenge incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden in the November 2024 election.

In response to Trump’s decision, Andrew Romeo, spokesperson for the DeSantis campaign, emphasised that the Florida governor was enthusiastic about presenting his vision for a potential presidency in Milwaukee.

Romeo underscored the importance of earning the nomination, stating, “No one is entitled to this nomination, including Donald Trump. You have to show up and earn it.”

The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll published this month demonstrated Trump’s continued dominance, capturing an impressive 47% of the national Republican vote.

In contrast, DeSantis observed a decline of six percentage points since July, plummeting to a modest 13%. Notably, the remaining candidates slated for the debate struggled to breach the single-digit threshold.

Trump faces a looming Friday deadline to voluntarily surrender in Fulton County, Georgia, subsequent to being indicted last week in a fourth criminal case.

The indictment alleges involvement in a scheme aimed at overturning the outcome of the 2020 election, which resulted in his defeat against Joe Biden.