The super PAC supporting Gov. Ron DeSantis‘s (R-FL) presidential bid released a new video on Wednesday, taunting former President Donald Trump over his indecision regarding participating in the Republican National Committee’s first primary debate next week.
Never Back Down shared the video on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, calling Trump “Too weak to debate.”
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The clip starts with a screen that reads, “Donald Trump used to mock Democrats for refusing to debate.” The video then cuts to footage from a recent interview with Fox News’s Bret Baier, during which Trump asked, “Why would I let these people take shots at me?”
“We can’t afford a nominee who’s too weak to debate,” the video continues.
Republicans need a nominee with stamina. A nominee who’s sharp.
We deserve a candidate who earns our vote — not one who demands it. pic.twitter.com/Tf3Cf4RrtX
— Never Back Down (@NvrBackDown24) August 16, 2023
While the video is appearing across digital platforms, it is not included in any television ad buys at this time.
Trump is unlikely to debate, his campaign has maintained. But the final decision from the former president is not expected to come down until Monday, before the RNC’s deadline of 48 hours before the event for candidates to have satisfied debate requirements.
Regarding the debate, Trump’s senior adviser Jason Miller told the Washington Examiner, “President Trump leads the Republican field by more than 40 points. So he’s going to dominate the conversation at the debate whether he’s there or not. Meanwhile, Ron DeSanctimonious is dropping like a rock and finds himself in third place in many polls with his opponents smelling blood in the water.”
DeSantis, Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, former Vice President Mike Pence, Gov. Doug Burgum (R-ND), and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie have all met the criteria to qualify for the debate on Aug. 23. When it comes to the RNC’s controversial loyalty pledge, its less clear which candidates have committed. DeSantis, Haley, Ramaswamy, Burgum, and Scott have reported they’ve signed the document already.
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While Trump doesn’t appear to be inclined to attend, his competitors are preparing for the scenario in which he does participate. Several have reportedly been preparing for a debate with Trump for weeks, per the Associated Press.
Last month, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said it would be a mistake for Trump not to attend the upcoming debate. Fox News executives Jay Wallace and Suzanne Scott have also reportedly been trying to convince the former president to participate in the event, which is being broadcast by the network. The New York Times reported earlier this month on an Aug. 1 dinner between the executives and Trump at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
