Trump unsure of participation in first Republican primary debate

Former President Donald Trump refused to say Sunday whether he would participate in the first Republican primary debate next month — while claiming the federal indictment against him was “election interference” and that his trial in the case should be pushed off.

Front-runner Trump, 77, noting he is comfortably ahead in the early GOP primary polls, said of debating, “Ronald Reagan didn’t do it, a lot of people didn’t do it. When you have a big lead, you don’t do it.”  

“I haven’t really made up my mind,” Trump said during an extensive interview with Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” host Maria Bartiromo.

The first debate will take place Aug. 23 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, where the Republican National Convention will be held next year.

Trump did talk up two of his Republican primary rivals, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, as candidates who could serve in his cabinet if he wins the nomination and returns to the White House.

“I could see Tim doing something,” Trump said. “Tim is a very talented guy.”

Asked if he was concerned that leading GOP rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, could score points on him in a debate, Trump said, “Or somebody else has a good night and cuts into his lead because that’s what’s happening. He’s going down and a couple of them are going up. I think Vivek has done a very good job, frankly. ” 

Trump also said his trial over 37 felony counts related to the mishandling of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate should be pushed back until after the 2024 presidential election.

“This is election interference. There is no case here,” said the former president, referring to the Department of Justice as the “Department of Injustice.”

Trump’s attorneys have previously argued the proposed Dec. 11 trial should be delayed indefinitely because of the candidate’s busy campaign schedule, among other reasons. 

The DOJ, in a filing, last week, asked a judge to reject the argument, saying there was “no basis in fact or law” for pushing off the proceedings.

Trump also is contesting an indictment brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg over “hush money” payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 elections.

Trump, despite his legal woes, insisted he can persuade women to vote for him and win a general election by focusing on public safety, border security, cutting taxes and regulation and promoting the US oil and gas exploration to make America energy independent.

On other matters, Trump said:

• He opposes the House GOP pitch to move the Federal Bureau of Investigation from Washington DC to Alabama. “I like the idea of it being close to the Justice Department because they work together and they had the land,” Trump said. “You could renovate the building or build a new building in that location.”
• Democratic incumbent President Biden will be Democratic nominee though “you hold your breath” on whether he can finish a sentence.
• Claimed that the late Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy told him that Biden was the “dumbest” senator when the two served together. He also said Biden rival Robert Kennedy Jr. is a smart guy but can’t win the Democratic nomination.

Trump also told Bartiromo he believes that authorities know who brought cocaine into the White House, expressing skepticism with a Secret Service probe did not identify a suspect.

“I have gotten to know the Secret Service really well, OK? And I can’t speak more highly of people. These are incredible people,” Trump said.

“And I believe that they know everything. They’re really smart and really good at what they do,” he said. “And I don’t think it’s possible for bags of cocaine to be left in a certain area by the Situation Room. I’m not talking about five blocks away, the Situation Room, where you decide on war, where you decide on nuclear, where you — and there are bags of [cocaine].”