Former President Donald J. Trump’s plan to have outstanding surrogates make his case in Milwaukee with out attending the controversy himself could already be hitting a snag as he clashes with Fox News.
Mr. Trump’s marketing campaign had beforehand organized for outstanding supporters to go to the “spin room,” the place candidates and their allies work together with members of the media after the controversy.
But Fox News, which is internet hosting the matchup, will grant entry to the spin room solely to aides of candidates who’re taking part, in line with a memo obtained by The New York Times. Aides of nonparticipating candidates can have entry provided that they’re invited as visitors of media organizations.
“In addition to the (5) Spin Room credentials referenced in a previous email, we’ll also issue (1) Media Row credential to any participating candidate/campaigns,” the memo says. “Any non-participating candidate/campaign is welcome in the Spin Room or Media Row as a guest of one of the media organizations with positions in those locations, using one of their credentials.”
The memo, which was first reported by Axios, doesn’t point out Mr. Trump, and the restrictions apply to all candidates who aren’t taking part — a class that additionally consists of those that didn’t meet the donor and polling thresholds to qualify. In follow, although, it is going to have an effect on Mr. Trump extra considerably than anybody else, since he’s the front-runner within the Republican major and is actively making an attempt to snub the controversy whereas nonetheless getting its advantages.
Mr. Trump’s choice to skip the primary Republican National Committee-sanctioned debate of the 2024 race was a slap within the face to each the social gathering and Fox News. Mr. Trump has steadily complained about Fox News’s protection of him. He has recorded an interview with Tucker Carlson, who was fired from the community this yr, that can put up on X, previously generally known as Twitter, in the course of the debate.
At least three senior members of Mr. Trump’s marketing campaign — Chris LaCivita, Jason Miller and Steven Cheung — plan to attend the controversy in individual, The Times has reported.
Among the outstanding Trump backers planning to attend Wednesday’s debate are Kari Lake, the Republican candidate for governor in Arizona who misplaced final yr and has loudly echoed Mr. Trump’s election lies; Mr. Trump’s son Donald Trump Jr.; and Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Matt Gaetz of Florida and Byron Donalds of Florida.
“Kari Lake looks forward to attending the debate, and if Fox thinks otherwise, they’re welcome to call her,” a senior adviser to Ms. Lake, Caroline Wren, informed NBC News on Monday.
The Fox News memo doesn’t describe any restrictions on viewers members, nonetheless, solely limiting entry to the spin room the place reporters will likely be doing the majority of their post-debate interviews.
Source: www.nytimes.com