It seems as if former President Donald Trump will not participate in the first Republican presidential debate in Milwaukee on Aug. 23. It remains to be seen if he will do any of them. Politically, there is no reason for Trump to participate. He has such a commanding lead in every poll for the GOP nomination; there’s little, if anything, to be gained from it. Nevertheless, Trump should participate anyway.
First, political debate is a hallmark of American politics. Granted, it’s not what it used to be, as candidates in recent years have decided to take the easy way out and avoid debating if it didn’t serve their political interests. However, this is still a government “of the people, by the people, for the people,” and the people deserve to see how all Republican candidates perform on the debate stage. Moreover, this should hold true for all politicians in any election in the country.
Next, former President Donald Trump, and his army of supporters, have created this public perception that he is a strong leader who doesn’t back down from any challenge. He’s supposed to be the macho candidate, the fighter, the defender of all that is MAGA. However, by not showing up, even without any political incentive to do so, it taints that image a bit. No devout supporter of his would admit it honestly, but it would still be valid.
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Anyone running for political office, let alone for president of the United States, should have the gumption and integrity to participate in debates. Moreover, say Trump wins the GOP nomination as expected. If polls showed that President Joe Biden had a lead over Trump in the general election, how does anyone think Trump would react if Biden declined to debate him? But with Trump not participating, he is making another political mistake and giving Biden a precedent to follow. Biden could use Trump’s arguments about not participating in the Republican debates against him.
And, perhaps most importantly, given Trump’s lead, it would give Trump extra practice. It is one thing to prepare for debates but another to participate in one. It’s been three years since his last debate with then-candidate Biden, and let’s face it, Trump’s performance was nothing to brag about back then. Getting the ability to (essentially) practice against established politicians, likely without likely suffering any negative consequences, would be a perfect opportunity for him to refine his skills and prepare for the likely showdown against Biden.
Debate between candidates is healthy. It always has been and always will be. It shows voters a candidate’s true qualities and his ability to think quickly on his feet, which is not something Trump has demonstrated a remarkable ability to do. Any candidate who is serious about winning the presidency should participate in a debate. And if he doesn’t want to do it for himself, he should do it for the people whose support he needs to win against Biden in November 2024.