Trump news – live: Codefendants surrender to Fulton County Jail as former president’s fourth arrest looms

Donald Trump’s codefendants have started surrendering to authorities to face charges in the Georgia election interference case.

Scott Hall and John Eastman were the first to turn themselves in on Tuesday, surrendering for arrest at Fulton County Jail before being released on bond.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, two more codefendants Cathy Latham and David Shafer were also booked into the jail. The first mugshots have started to emerge with a smiling Mr Shafer posting his online.

Mr Trump has announced that he plans to surrender on Thursday – hours after skipping the first Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night.

Meanwhile, in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, a key witness has flipped his testimony and implicated the former president and his associates on the charges.

Yuscil Taveras, the former director of IT at Mar-a-Lago, accused Mr Trump and his employees Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliviera of being involved in a scheme to delete security footage relating to the handling of classified documents, according to a new filing from the special counsel’s office.

This move came “immediately” after Mr Taveras switched attorneys from a lawyer paid for by a Trump PAC group to a public defender.

Key points

• First mugshots of Trump codefendants released

• Two more Trump codefendants surrender to authorities in Georgia

• Key witness in Mar-a-Lago documents case flips to implicate Trump

• Trump granted $200,000 bail in Georgia and ordered not to make threats on social media

• Trump refuses to attend any debates

GOP debate: Boos for Christie and Hutchinson

02:06 , Oliver O'Connell

GOP debate gets underway.

02:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum begin by introducing the candidates and running through some house rules.

Baier notes that the eventual nominee will accept the nomination at the same venue as tonight’s debate.

Trump bashes candidates on the GOP debate stage

02:04 , Ariana Baio

Just because Donald Trump isn’t on the debate stage tonight doesn’t mean he won’t be lashing out at his political opponents.

During his pre-recorded interview with Tucker Carlson, Mr Trump said several candidates should not be on the stage including Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie.

Mr Trump called Mr Hutchinson “Aida” and said he is “weak” and pathetic” and questioned how he was elected Arkansas.

Turning his attention toward Chris Christie, Mr Trump called him a “lunatic” and said his polling numbers are too low to be a candidate.

Trump says joining debate was the wrong move

02:01 , Ariana Baio

Right off the bat, Donald Trump told Tucker Carlson he believes joining the debate was wrong because he is polling so far ahead

”I don’t think it’s right to do it if you’re leading 50, 60, 70 points,” Mr Trump said.

Watch Donald Trump speak with Tucker Carlson

01:57 , Ariana Baio

Who do likely GOP voters think will do best tonight?

01:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Who do likely Republican primary voters think will do best tonight? The pressure is on for Ramaswamy, DeSantis, Scott and Haley according tot a FiveThirtyEight poll conducted with The Washington Post and IPSOS.

Why Trump is a no-show at the first GOP 2024 debate

01:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Expecting a coronation and so far looking likely to get one, the former president has chosen not to attend the first Republican primary debate, Gustaf Kilander writes.

Why Donald Trump isn’t showing up to the first Republican primary debate

Five things to watch for tonight

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent consulted with top Republican campaign veterans about what they are watching during tonight’s debate. Here are five things to keep an eye on:

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

Bookies taking bets on Trump’s weight at Georgia surrender

01:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump, who has sold steaks, buildings, ties, digital trading cards, and many other things with his name on them, is never someone who has missed an opportunity to make a little money, and it seems bookies are taking a similar approach to the former president’s indictment in Georgia for alleged election meddling.

Josh Marcus reports.

Bookies taking bets on Trump’s weight during Georgia surrender

Trump throws tantrum on Truth Social trying to make himself stand out

01:39 , Ariana Baio

Brit Hume went on Fox News this afternoon to offer his opinion on the Democratic Party choosing a candidate to run against the next Republican nominee.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that if we get a candidate get a clear breakout moment either here or some time in the near future, and it appears on its way to overtaking Donald Trump for the nomination or even coming close enough, the Democrats will be frantically looking for somebody else to nominate,” Mr Hume said.

“Because I think that they think that Joe Biden can beat Donald Trump because he did before. I’m not sure they believe that he could beat almost anybody else,” Mr Hume said.

Mr Trump, who is not participating in the first GOP debate tonight, took to his social media platform to lash out at Mr Hume.

“I AM LEADING BIDEN IN ALMOST ALL POLLS! LEADING REPUBLICANS BY 50 POINTS. FOX NEWS REFUSES TO POST OR DISCUSS. BRIT HUME, WORKING WITH RINO BRET BAIER, IS DELUSIONAL!!!” Mr Trump wrote.

He continued, “NO, I’M THE ONE THAT THE DEMOCRATS DON’T WANT TO RUN AGAINST. They said the same thing in 2016. How did that work out? We did MUCH better in the Rigged Election of 2020. The RINOS and DEMS are all about DISINFORMATION! @brithume @bretbaier”

In pictures: Outside the debate hall

01:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Haley rips Ramaswamy and Scott on China ahead of debate

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley took a shot at two of her rivals for the Republican Party nomination ahead of tonight’s first debate.

Referring to a statement made by entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy about only helping Taiwan until 2028, Ms Haley said his comments point to a “complete lack of awareness” of the island’s conflict with mainland China.

Per Fox News:

"It shows a complete lack of awareness of the breadth of the Chinese threat," Haley initially told the Washington Post’s Josh Rogin. Her campaign later confirmed her comments to Fox News Digital. "That’s the problem with people who don’t understand national security, and he proved that. We can’t have a novice going into the White House."

Ms Haley also went after South Carolina Senator Tim Scott for his hesitancy to ban TikTok, the phone app that shares data with the Chinese government.

“We can’t have someone who is unsure about where they stand on China policy,” she said. “Banning TikTok is only the tip of the spear when it comes to defending against China.”

Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene accuses Fox of censorship over Trump surrogates rules

01:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Doug Burgum says he’ll attend GOP debate despite basketball injury

01:22 , Oliver O'Connell

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has said he will attend the first Republican debate after suffering an injury playing basketball with staff members.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Doug Burgum says he’ll attend GOP debate despite basketball injury

Megan Rapinoe fires back at Trump’s ‘fake’ attack on USWNT’s World Cup loss

01:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Megan Rapinoe has fired back at Donald Trump and his “fake” criticism of the US Women’s National Soccer Team’s World Cup loss.

The squad was bounced out of the tournament in the round of 16, its earliest ever exit despite winning the last two competitions.

After the team crashed out with a 5-4 loss to Sweden on penalties, the former president took to Truth Social to blame “wokeness” and Joe Biden for the loss.

Graeme Massie reports.

Megan Rapinoe fires back at Trump’s ‘fake’ attack on USWNT’s World Cup loss

Watters: ‘One of these candidates may wind up as VP'

01:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Debate drinking game tradition resurfaces for Republican primary showdown

01:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The first debate of an election season can be a foreboding proposition given that you may suddenly realise during it that we’re all on this runaway train now until 20 January 2025 when someone will be sworn in as president.

Sounds like it could be time for a drinking game...

Drinking game tradition resurfaces for GOP primary debate

Nine down and 13 to go as Trump and codefendants start surrendering for arrest in Georgia

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Nearly half of the Republican operatives charged in Fulton County’s investigation into their attempts to alter the 2020 election results in Georgia have now surrendered to state authorities, been booked in jail and released on bond.

Donald Trump has yet to join them.

John Bowden reports.

9 down, 13 to go: Trump and his codefendants start surrendering for arrest in Georgia

Play along at home: Trump releases his own GOP debate bingo

00:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has released his own debate bingo card ahead of the first faceoff of the 2024 GOP primary. You may find it a little focused on one candidate...

Trump mocks GOP as he announces Tucker Carlson interview will clash with debate

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

00:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what Republicans have told The Independent’s Eric Garcia that they expect from tonight’s debate.

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum: The Fox News anchors wrangling first GOP debate

00:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Overseeing the sparring on stage will be two season Fox News anchors, Special Report host Bret Baier and The Story host Martha MacCallum.

Who are Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, Fox News hosts wrangling first GOP debate?

Trump says his indictments should be viewed as campaign contribution to Biden

00:18 , Oliver O'Connell

With just a short time to go before the GOP debate, former President Trump is back on Truth Social, posting: “THE INDICTMENTS AGAINST ME SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO CROOKED JOE BIDEN AND HIS RADICAL LEFT THUGS. THIS WILL BE THEIR UPDATED FORM OF CHEATING & ELECTION INTERFERENCE. REMEMBER, THESE ARE BIDEN INDICTMENTS, PURE & SIMPLE!”

The Biden administration has gone out of its way to separate itself from and not comment on the actions of the Department of Justice, nor prosecutors in New York or Georgia.

Tucker Carlson interview: Trump addresses possible assassination and ‘open conflict’ in US

00:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump chose to skip the first Republican presidential debate and instead speak with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, in an interview packed with conspiratorial themes about a civil war in the US, Jeffrey Epstein, a plot by Senate Republicans against Mr Trump, and even a potential assassination attempt, according to a preview of the conversation shared online.

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump speaks of assassination and US civil war in Tucker Carlson debate interview

Christie campaign promises governor will ‘tell truth about Trump and our party'

00:08 , Oliver O'Connell

In a pre-debate memo to set expectations ahead of tonight’s Republican debate, Chris Christie’s campaign has promised that the former New Jersey governor will “tell the truth about Trump and our party” while also suggesting the other candidates are over-managed.

Spokesperson Karl Ricketts says they do not have a “war room” nor surrogates to flood the post-debate spin room, but rather: “Our full on-site surrogates list: Former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie.”

Watch: Fauci and Trump skip merrily around outside debate venue

00:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Ramaswamy claims he was misquoted about 9/11 conspiracies disproven by audio

00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

With the first Republican primate debate taking place this week, the campaign of Vivek Ramaswamy, who has seen a bump in the polls in recent months, is embroiled in a scandal over what the GOP candidate believes about 9/11 and the January 6 insurrection.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Audio disproves Vivek Ramaswamy claims he was misquoted about 9/11 conspiracies

Giuliani poses for mugshot in Georgia ahead of Trump surrender in 2020 election case

23:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was photographed for a mugshot in Atlanta on Wednesday, after he, Donald Trump, and 17 other associates were indicted this month in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to subvert the 2020 election results in the state.

“If they can do this to me, they can do this to you,” Mr Giuliani said outside of the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday, calling the case a “fight for our way of life” and a “travesty.”

Read on...

Rudy Giuliani poses for mugshot in Georgia ahead of Trump surrender in 2020 case

NYT under fire for publishing Ann Coulter column on the GOP debate

23:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The New York Times has come under fire for publishing an opinion piece based on a conversation with conservative commentator Ann Coulter, just over two decades after she shared her wish that the paper’s offices be blown up.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

New York Times under fire for publishing Ann Coulter column on the GOP debate

Watch: Tucker Carlson releases preview of Trump interview

23:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has released a preview of tonight’s interview with former president Donald Trump which airs in competition to tonight’s Republican Party debate.

Watch below:

ICYMI: Kayleigh McEnany rips Trump’s decision to skip debate

23:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump‘s former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany thinks her former boss is making a “miscalculation” by choosing to skip the first GOP primary debate.

The comments came after Mr Trump made it clear in a post on Truth Social that he plans to sit out the first debate in the GOP presidential primary race, citing his position as front runner and arguing that participating would only provide his opponents the chance to sell themselves by attacking him.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Former ally Kayleigh McEnany rips Trump’s decision to skip debate

Kari Lake greets Trump supporters outside debate venue

23:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump presence will be felt at debate even in his absence

23:00 , AP

The eight contenders who are scheduled to attend the Milwaukee debate hosted by Fox News will likely face pressure to articulate how they would differ in style and substance from Trump, who holds a commanding early lead in the race. That could be a delicate task, forcing candidates to decide how closely to align themselves with the former president’s most outlandish positions, including his lies about widespread fraud during the 2020 election.

Read on...

Trump won't be at the GOP's first presidential debate. But his presence will be felt

In his new book 'The Fall,' author Michael Wolff foresees the demise of Fox News

22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The next book from “Fire and Fury” author Michael Wolff is both a recounting of the recent past and a prediction for the near future.

Wolff’s “The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty” will come out Sept. 26, publisher Henry Holt announced Tuesday. A spokesperson told The Associated Press that Wolff, whose previous books include “Rupert Murdoch, The Man Who Owns the News,” interviewed “people throughout the Murdoch organization, including many with direct knowledge of Murdoch and his family.”

Wolff will offer behinds-the-scenes accounts of everything from Tucker Carlson’s ousting, to Rupert Murdoch’s clashes with former President Donald Trump to tensions within the Murdoch family that mirror HBO’s “Succession.” Fox’s decline is inevitable, Wolff contends.

“I have been telling the story of the great power of Rupert Murdoch and Fox News for many years,” he said in a statement. “This power is now reaching a natural end and ‘The Fall’ brings the story to its closing act.”

Wolff is best known for “Fire and Fury,” his tell-all about the Trump administration that sold millions of copies despite allegations from some mentioned in the book that he had misquoted or misrepresented them.

Read more:

In his new book 'The Fall,' author Michael Wolff foresees the demise of Fox News

Federal court denies Meadows bid to stave off arrest

22:38 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal court judge has denied former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows’s bid to stave off arrest or immediately remove his criminal case in Fulton County to federal court.

A similar decision was made earlier in the case of Trump administration lawyer Jeff Clark.

They will both be arrested by the end of the week.

From praying after the Access Hollywood tape to condemning January 6: Everything Mike Pence has said about Trump

22:30 , Kelly Rissman

Former Vice President Mike Pence has become much more emboldened in his criticism of his former boss, Donald Trump, in recent months, but has refused to stoop to Mr Trump’s online admonishments and name-calling tactics.

Mr Pence is trying to pave a pathway back to the White House – without his name on a ballot next to Mr Trump. But it’s no secret that the former vice president isn’t polling particularly well, with just over five per cent in the polls, putting him in fourth place in a crowded GOP field.

The man who was once described as “cartoonishly loyal as Trump’s vice president” (and who once praised Trump every 12 seconds for three minutes straight during a 2017 Cabinet meeting) is now taking harsher stances and carefully distancing himself, at times, from the former president.

Mr Pence has a signature style, one that has been well curated from decades ago after losing a House race; in 1991, he vowed to avoid negative campaign attacks. This promise seemed to inform a lot of Mr Pence’s responses to significant events in which his former boss found himself in hot water. Rather than pointing fingers, the former Indiana governor tends to turn the conversation to the American public and tread diplomatically.

Read more:

Everything Mike Pence has said about Donald Trump

Former Trump and Pence staffer shares her predictions for debate

22:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Alyssa Farah Griffin, the former Trump and Pence White House staffer who has since forged a broadcast career on The View and as a commentator for CNN, has reshared her predictions for tonight’s debate. She made the original post on Sunday.

-Nikki Haley wins the night-DeSantis takes the most blows-Vivek chips away at RDS’ populist support-Tim Scott sees a boost-Christie has the most viral moments & makes progress on margins w/Trump skeptical R’s-Pence gets most applause on life/ social issues

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will debate after injury

22:22 , Oliver O'Connell

“Doug feels very strongly that his voice is necessary on the stage this evening, and has said he will fight through the pain and challenge standing in order to make that happen,” NBC reports his campaign as saying.

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what Republicans have told The Independent’s Eric Garcia that they expect from tonight’s debate.

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

Trump responds to Giuliani surrender

22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump broke a prolonged silence on social media today to briefly comment on the arrest of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and rail against the charges against him and his allies.

He posted on Truth Social:

The greatest Mayor in the history of New York City was just ARRESTED in Atlanta, Georgia, because he fought for Election Integrity. THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED & STOLLEN. HOW SAD FOR OUR COUNTRY. MAGA!

[Yes, he misspelled stolen, again...]

What is stollen? The German cake that Donald Trump accidentally promoted

Jeff Clark to be arrested as judge denies effort to stay Fulton County proceedings

22:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump administration lawyer Jeff Clark will be arrested this week regarding charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

A federal judge has denied his effort to stay the Fulton County proceedings and stave off his arrest while he tried to send the case to federal court.

Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell’s booking mugshots

21:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Rudy Giuliani’s booking mugshot

21:49 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: Giuliani seen leaving bail bonds office after arrest

21:44 , Oliver O'Connell

Full story: Giuliani gives awkward laugh over whether he regrets Trump relationship during Georgia surrender

21:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Rudy Giuliani called his arrest an “attack on the American people” outside a Georgia jail, where he surrendered to law enforcement for his part in the alleged 2020 election interference plot.

The former New York City mayor and former attorney to Donald Trump spoke to reporters outside the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta.

He gave an awkward laugh when asked if he regretted his long working relationship with Mr Trump.

Here’s the full story from outside the jail:

Rudy Giuliani gives awkward laugh over whether he regrets Trump relationship

Republicans for Ukraine group to air ad during debate

21:30 , Gustaf Kilander

Who is taking part in the Republican debate tonight?

21:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Eight Republican presidential candidates have met the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) new criteria to participate in the first GOP debate on 23 August.

Here’s who will be lining up on stage in Milwaukee:

Watch: Combative Giuliani lashes out at Fulton County DA Fani Willis in chaotic scenes outside jail

21:18 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump releases his own GOP debate bingo card

21:11 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has released his own debate bingo card ahead of the first faceoff of the 2024 GOP primary.

Mr Trump also announced that his interview with Tucker Carlson will be shown at 9pm ET, serving as counterprogramming to the GOP debate.

Kelly Rissman reports.

Trump mocks GOP as he announces Tucker Carlson interview will clash with debate

Watch: Giuliani says ‘very honoured to be involved in this case'

21:04 , Oliver O'Connell

Biden campaign put up Dark Brandon billboards around Milwaukee ahead of debate

21:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Media scrum surrounds Giuliani as he leaves Fulton County Jail

20:52 , Oliver O'Connell

Jen Psaki says Trump has given major clue that he’s scared of legal peril

20:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki believes that Donald Trump has given a major clue that he’s scared of his escalating legal troubles.

Ms Psaki, who went from the White House briefing room to taking a spot as a talking head at MSNBC, said that Mr Trump is showing “unusual” signs of fear in the face of his various indictments.

The former president is currently facing a total of 91 charges after being indicted in New York, Georgia, and twice by the federal government – at a time when he is pursuing the 2024 presidential election.

Read more:

Psaki says Trump has given major clue that he’s scared of legal peril

Booking photo for Kenneth Chesebro revealed

20:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Full story: Rudy Giuliani says he feels ‘very, very good’ as he surrenders in Georgia on RICO charges

20:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Rudy Giuliani has claimed that he feels “very, very good” ahead of his arrival at a Georgia jail, where he surrendered to law enforcement for his part in the 2020 election interference plot.

The former New York City mayor and former attorney to Donald Trump spoke to reporters as he left his apartment in New York City on Wednesday morning to travel to Fulton County Jail in Atlanta.

The former Trump attorney surrendered at the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday afternoon, where his bail was set at $150,000.

Read on...

Rudy Giuliani says he feels ‘very, very good’ as he surrenders in Georgia

Watch: Giuliani surrenders to authorities at Fulton County Jail

20:35 , Oliver O'Connell

Biden asked about GOP debate

20:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Having emerged from pelodog, a pilates and spin studio in Lake Tahoe, President Joe Biden — in addition to making brief remarks on the plane crash in Russia — was asked about tonight’s upcoming Republican primary debate.

Asked if he was going to watch the Republican debate, he replied: “I’m going to try to see — get as much as I can, yes.”Asked what his expectations were, he smiled broadly and laughed: “I have none.”“Thank you all,” he added and then walked to the waiting car.He was wearing a blue ballcap, aviators, and a teal sweater. He had what looked to be an iced coffee in his hand.

Giuliani and Powell surrender to Fulton County Jail

20:24 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell have surrendered to authorities at Fulton County Jail to face charges relating to the 2020 Georgia election interference case.

Mr Giuliani’s bond was confirmed set at $150,000 around lunchtime and Ms Powell’s was set at $100,000 on Wednesday morning.

The former mayor of New York faces 13 counts relating to efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, whereas Ms Powell faces 16 counts, including two counts of conspiracy to commit election fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit computer theft.

She is accused of conspiring to allegedly encourage and help people tamper with ballot markers and machines inside an elections office in Coffee County.

Biden comments on plane crash in Russia

20:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Monday will be a busy court day for Trump and his allies

20:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Scott MacFarlane of CBS News notes that Trump-related courtroom drama does not abate after the weekend.

Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro’s contempt of Congress case has a hearing scheduled for Monday at 9.30am in Washington, DC.

In the very next courtroom, there is a trial date hearing for Donald Trump’s federal election interference trial at 10am (unlikely he will attend).

Meanwhile, down in Fulton County, Georgia, there is a 10am hearing as to whether Mark Meadows can have his case shifted to federal court.

Busy times...

Meanwhile, President Biden is on vacation in Lake Tahoe

20:05 , Oliver O'Connell

President Joe Biden and his family are currently on vacation in Lake Tahoe.

Mr Biden has been briefed about the plane crash in Russia that was said to be carrying Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin who led a failed coup attempt against Vladimir Putin two months ago today.

He has also been briefed on reports of an active shooter in Pittsburgh.

“The President, First Lady, and members of their family are taking a Pilates class followed by a spin class,” the White House informs the press.

Several family members were spotted by pool reporters, including granddaughters Maisy and Naomi, and her husband Peter Neal. At one point, Hunter Biden’s young son, Beau, ran along the sidewalk and into the fitness studio.

How to watch Trump’s Tucker Carlson interview airing during GOP debate

20:00 , Kelly Rissman

After Donald Trump declared that he would not be participating in the first GOP primary debate on Wednesday, the former president has something else up his sleeve: an interview with disgraced Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

Mr Trump confirmed his absence on Truth Social, explaining, “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had…I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”

Read more:

How to watch Trump’s Tucker Carlson interview airing during GOP debate

Watch: Gov Doug Burgum has arrived in debate spin room on crutches after basketball accident

19:55 , Oliver O'Connell

‘Ron DeSantis has never learned how to take a punch'

19:50 , Oliver O'Connell

The Democratic operative Joshua Karp who advised Andrew Gillum and Charlie Crist, the gubernatorial nominees in Florida who lost to Mr DeSantis in 2018 and 2022 has shared his insights on how to debate the governor.

Mr Karp advised his candidates to keep eye contact with Mr DeSantis, especially when attacking him. Get him to start complaining and whining. Don’t be so sure that he’s all that well-prepared and be on the lookout for his prepared lines.

“Basically from the jump, it was clear he hadn’t prepared at all,” Mr Karp told The Daily Beast.

“A win for DeSantis is coming out of the debate looking like the frontrunner on a stage that doesn’t have Donald Trump,” he added. “Like, give the Republican Party a picture of a party that doesn’t have Donald Trump in it.”

“Ron DeSantis has never learned how to take a punch,” Mr Karp told the outlet. “He can’t counterpunch with more force. The big test of this debate is whether he is able to control those bad instincts that he’s got.”

Fulton County AG responds to Jeff Clark bid to move charges to federal court

19:47 , Oliver O'Connell

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has responded to former Trump administration lawyer Jeff Clark’s bid to transfer his charges to federal court, saying his reasoning is based on a “misread of the applicable statutes, a misapprehension of the binding case law, and a fundamental misunderstanding of criminal procedure.”

She sarcastically adds: “As inconvenient as modern air travel can admittedly be, whatever nuisance involved in the defendant securing a flight to Atlanta ... is self-evidently insufficient justification.”

Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene claims not to know who some GOP candidates are

19:43 , Oliver O'Connell

“These candidates, I don’t even know who some of them are. I was surprised that I didn’t know who the governor of North Dakota and some other people were. They really don’t have a chance.”

— Georgia Rep Marjorie Taylor-Greene

Report: Giuliani bond set at $150,000 in Fulton County

19:36 , Oliver O'Connell

What the GOP candidates have said about transgender rights: Ron DeSantis

19:35 , Oliver O'Connell

As governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis has rapidly implemented some of the most aggressive anti-transgender legislation seen across the US.

In May, the Florida governor signed a bill banning children from undergoing gender-affirming medical care and criminalising medical providers who offer it to patients.

The bill also allows transgender children to be taken from their parents and placed into state custody should parents try to seek gender-affirming care.

Mr DeSantis has called gender-affirming care “mutilation” and “wrong” saying that “it has no place in our society”.

Last year, Mr DeSantis also notably spearheaded a bill, nicknamed the “Don’t Say Gay” law, that prohibits the discussion of sex or gender in schools – including a child’s preferred pronouns.

Despite his action and rhetoric, when Mr DeSantis was questioned about what he would do if his child was gay or transgender, he responded: “Well, my children are my children… We’ll leave that – we’ll leave that between my wife and I.”

Analysis: Chris Christie is on a mission against his old friend Trump

19:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Could a man who once helped mould Donald Trump’s rise to power be the one to finally break his hold on the Republican Party?

Chris Christie is betting so.

John Bowden reports.

Christie is on a mission to take down ‘scared’ Trump – starting with the debate

Kenneth Chesebro files demand for speedy trial

19:25 , Ariana Baio

Kenneth Chesebro, former attorney for Donald Trump’s campaign who was recently indicted alongside the ex-president, has filed a demand for a speedy trial in Fulton County, Georgia.

Citing a law for his right to a speedy trial, Mr Chesebro demanded his trial date occur “within the terms of the court the indictment was filed (e.g. first Monday in January, March, May, July, September, and November)”.

Ron DeSantis isn’t over yet – here’s why

18:20 , Eric Garcia

Ron DeSantis has faced a flurry of negative headlines in recent weeks as his poll numbers have declined and his campaign sheds staff.

But his supporters and other insiders say that it is too early to count out the Florida governor as he prepares to take the debate stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday. With former president Donald Trump electing to sit out of the first debate, Mr DeSantis will likely be the subject of most attacks given that he has consistently polled in second place behind the former president.

A recent NBC News/Des Moines Register/Mediacom poll found that 42 per cent of Iowa caucus-goers prefer the former president as their first choice, with Mr DeSantis in a distant second at 19 per cent. At the same time, a combined 57 per cent of poll respondents said that the party needed new leadership, with 38 per cent of those caucus goers listing Mr DeSantis as their first choice.

With its heavy churchgoing population, Iowa offers Mr DeSantis his best position to beat Mr Trump, given his policies on attacking “wokeness” and restricting how sexual orientation, gender identity and race are taught in schools, as well as his signing of a six-week abortion ban.

Read more:

Ron DeSantis isn’t over yet – here’s why

Two candidates suing GOP for being left out of debate: ‘They’re cherrypicking’

18:00 , Gustaf Kilander

Two Republican presidential candidates are suing the Republican National Committee for not allowing them to take part in the first primary debate in Milwaukee.

California conservative radio host Larry Elder and Michigan businessman Perry Johnson reportedly didn’t meet the qualifications set by the RNC, which the candidates dispute. The requirements included donations from 40,000 individuals with at least 200 in 20 or more states, reaching at least one per cent in two national polls and one poll from one of the states that vote early, and agreeing to the pledge of loyalty to support the eventual nominee.

Mr Elder, who has previously run for governor of California, claimed the RNC had “rigged” the process and that he had indeed qualified, but that the RNC didn’t accept some of the polls he cited.

Mr Johnson ran for governor of Michigan in 2022. He also claimed that he has met the requirements, saying that the RNC “knew who they wanted to ban” and that they made “a flawed decision”.

But he didn’t outline why the RNC rejected his argument that he had qualified for the debate stage in his statement.

Read more:

Two candidates suing GOP for being left out of debate: ‘They’re cherrypicking’

Chris Christie is on a mission to take down ‘scared’ Donald Trump – starting with first debate

17:40 , John Bowden

Could a man who once helped mould Donald Trump’s rise to power be the one to finally break his hold on the Republican Party?

Chris Christie is betting so.

The former New Jersey governor is running a combative, anti-establishment campaign on behalf of the establishment — the old Republican establishment, the Reagan GOP, against what is now the actual leadership of the Republican Party: Donald Trump, and his inner circle of loyalists, attack dogs and sycophants.

His wager? That he understands the strengths and weaknesses of Mr Trump better than any candidate on the debate stage, an understanding which combined with a punchy, charismatic frontman can spell doom for the Trump campaign. It’s a risky bargain, but surely no riskier than the respective gambits being waged quietly by every single Republican presidential candidate apparently hoping that Mr Trump will drop out under a mountain of legal battles or otherwise spontaneously implode before it is too late.

As it stood ahead of the first Republican debate, Mr Christie is beginning to see at least the whisperings of success. He’s overtaken Ron DeSantis and others in polls of New Hampshire, the first primary state where he hopes to be competitive for the top slot. And, perhaps most importantly, he has been credited at least in the media as being the reason why Donald Trump is skipping the debates entirely.

Read more:

Christie is on a mission to take down ‘scared’ Trump – starting with the debate

Trump mocks GOP as he announces Tucker Carlson interview will directly clash with debate: ‘Sparks will fly’

17:20 , Kelly Rissman

Former President Donald Trump announced that his interview with Tucker Carlson will be shown at 9pm ET, serving as counterprogramming to the first Republican primary debate.

Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday: “MY INTERVIEW WITH TUCKER CARLSON WILL BE AIRED TONIGHT AT 9:00 P.M. ‘SPARKS WILL FLY.’ ENJOY!”

It is still unclear where the interview with Carlson will be shown, but many assume it will be aired on X, seeing as the platform airs the former Fox News host’s new show, “Tucker on Twitter.”

Mr Trump’s post seemed to mock the Republican Party – and Fox News – as he seeks to lure viewers away from other candidates and the network, which he has recently bashed.

The 2024 GOP frontrunner has repeatedly declared that he would not be participating in the debate – which is scheduled to be broadcast on Wednesday on Fox News.

Read more:

Trump mocks GOP as he announces Tucker Carlson interview will clash with debate

What the GOP candidates have said about transgender rights: Nikki Haley

17:00 , Ariana Baio

Nikki Haley has repeatedly denounced transgender female athletes competing on sports teams consistent with their gender identity, calling it “the women’s issue of our time”.

The former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador went as far as to accuse transgender athletes of contributing to “a third of our teenage girls seriously [contemplating] suicide last year.”

Ms Haley told ABC News 4 in May that she opposes gender-affirming healthcare for minors saying: “You shouldn’t allow a child to have gender-changing procedure until the age of 18 when they are an adult and they can make that decision.”

She added: “We shouldn’t have taxpayer dollars going to that.”

Sidney Powell strikes $100,000 bail agreement with Georgia prosecutors

16:40 , Gustaf Kilander

Former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell has agreed to a $100,000 bail agreement with prosecutors in Georgia.

She’s set to be subject to the same release conditions as the other defendants in the case. While Ms Powell has yet to turn herself in, the conditions state that she must surrender by noon on Friday.

Ms Powell was one of the lawyers pushing baseless allegations of fraud following the 2020 election.

What the GOP candidates have said about transgender rights: Donald Trump

16:20 , Ariana Baio

While in office, Donald Trump rolled back a slew of rights protecting transgender people.

This included axing policies that allowed trans people to serve in the military and that protected trans patients from discrimination by doctors, hospitals and health insurance companies.

But if he were re-elected, Mr Trump has promised to go even further by punishing doctors and hospitals for providing gender-affirming care to minors which includes revoking Medicaid and Medicare qualifications.

The former president has also repeatedly mocked transgender athletes during speeches.

North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum’s debate attendance in question after basketball injury

16:00 , Gustaf Kilander

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum’s debate attendance is in question after he was injured playing basketball with his staff.

On Tuesday, he was taken to an emergency room in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – where the debate will take place tonight – and it remains unclear if he’ll be able to stand in time for tonight’s debate, according to CNN.

Read more:

North Dakota Gov Doug Burgum’s debate attendance in question after basketball injury

Rudy Giuliani says he feels ‘very, very good’ as he heads to Georgia to surrender on RICO charges

15:40 , Rachel Sharp

Rudy Giuliani has claimed that he feels “very, very good” as he heads to Georgia to face arrest for his part in the 2020 election interference plot.

The former New York City mayor and former attorney to Donald Trump spoke to reporters as he left his apartment in New York City on Wednesday morning to travel to Fulton County Jail in Atlanta.

“I’m going to Georgia, and I’m feeling very very good about it, because I feel like I’m defending the rights of all Americans as I did so many times as a United States attorney,” he said.

Read more:

Rudy Giuliani says he feels ‘very, very good’ as he heads to Georgia to surrender

What the GOP candidates have said about transgender rights

15:20 , Ariana Baio

Over the last three years, the US has seen a record number of anti-transgender laws passed in states – restricting, and sometimes criminalising, youth access to gender-affirming care, diminishing trans visibility in classrooms and limiting participation in athletics.

So far in 2023, there have been over 566 anti-transgender bills introduced in government, according to a trans legislation tracker. Of that, 83 have passed and 358 are ongoing.

The mounting legislation is largely the result of a campaign by conservatives to create false narratives vilifying transgender people, as they seek to maintain a stronghold over their constituents.

Most likely, the 2024 Republican nominee for president will share similar rhetoric to other anti-transgender rights politicians.

Here’s what each GOP presidential candidate has said about transgender rights to date:

What the GOP candidates have said about transgender rights

Meadows asks federal court to block his arrest on Georgia election charges

14:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Attorneys for Mark Meadows, the ex-North Carolina congressman who served as Donald Trump’s final White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, have filed an emergency motion seeking a federal court order barring Fulton County, Georgia authorities from arresting him while a request to move the racketeering and election interference case against him from state court is pending.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

Mark Meadows asks federal court to block his arrest on Georgia election charges

DeSantis responds to Trumpworld ‘listless vessels’ blowback

14:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Ron DeSantis is doubling down after calling Donald Trump and some of his supporters “listless vessels” in a weekend interview that enraged Trumpworld and drew criticism from the ex-president’s allies who accused him of insulting GOP voters.

John Bowden reports.

DeSantis responds to Trumpworld blowback over ‘listless vessels’ remark

Kinzinger thinks Trump is ‘scared to death’ of one 2024 GOP rival in particular

13:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger said that former president Donald Trump is “scared to death” of his former confidant Chris Christie, the former governor of New Jersey.

Eric Garcia reports.

Adam Kinzinger thinks Trump is ‘scared to death’ of this 2024 GOP rival

Everything Mike Pence has said about Donald Trump

13:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Here are all of the things Mr Pence has said about Mr Trump, both while he was in office and after, showcasing his transformation from the former president’s right-hand man to Mr Trump’s competitor for the Republican nomination.

Everything Mike Pence has said about Donald Trump

GOP debate: Who are the partners of the presidential candidates?

13:00 , Oliver O'Connell

You might be familiar with the candidates themselves by now but you may not be so well acquainted with their families. Here is a brief introduction to their better halves.

Who are the Republican presidential candidates’ partners?

How to watch Trump’s Tucker Carlson interview

12:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Kelly Rissman reports.

How to watch Trump’s Tucker Carlson interview airing during GOP debate

A look at the candidates participants debating Wednesday night

11:00 , Namita Singh

Ron DeSantis: The Florida governor has long been seen as Donald Trump’s top rival, finishing a distant second to him in polls in early-voting states and in national polls as well, and raising an impressive amount of money.

But Mr DeSantis’ campaign has struggled in recent weeks to live up to high expectations. He let go of more than one-third of his staff as federal filings showed his campaign was burning through cash at an unsustainable rate.

Tim Scott: The South Carolina senator has been looking for a breakout moment. The first debate could be his chance.

A prolific fundraiser, Mr Scott entered the summer with $21m cash on hand.In one debate-approved poll in Iowa, he joined Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis in reaching double digits. The senator has focused much of his campaign resources on the leadoff GOP voting state, which has a large number of white evangelical voters.

Nikki Haley: She has blitzed early-voting states with campaign events, walking crowds through her successes ousting a longtime South Carolina lawmaker, then becoming the state’s first female and first minority governor.

Also serving as Mr Trump’s UN ambassador for about two years, she frequently cites her international experience, focusing on the threat China poses to the United States.

Vivek Ramaswamy: The biotech entrepreneur and author of “Woke, Inc.: Inside Corporate America’s Social Justice Scam” is an audience favorite at multi-candidate events and has polled well despite not being nationally known when he entered the race.

Mr Ramaswamy’s campaign says he met the donor threshold earlier this year, but this summer he rolled out “Vivek’s Kitchen Cabinet” to boost his donor numbers even more by letting fundraisers keep 10 per cent of what they bring in for his campaign.

Chris Christie: The former New Jersey governor opened his campaign by portraying himself as the only candidate ready to take on Trump. Christie called on the former president to “show up at the debates and defend his record,” calling him “a coward” if he doesn’t.

Last month, Christie — who kicked off his campaign in June — told CNN that he surpassed “40,000 unique donors in just 35 days.” He also has met the polling requirements.

Doug Burgum: A wealthy former software entrepreneur now in his second term as North Dakota’s governor, he has been using his fortune to boost his campaign.

He announced a program last month to give away $20 gift cards — “Biden Relief Cards,” hitting president Joe Biden’s handling of the economy — to as many as 50,000 people in exchange for $1 donations. Critics have questioned whether the offer violates campaign finance law.

Mike Pence: Donald Trump’s vice president had met the polling threshold but struggled to amass a sufficient number of donors, raising the possibility he might not qualify for the first debate.

But on 8 August, his campaign announced that it had crossed the 40,000 donor threshold, and also that he had become the first candidate to formally submit his donor count to the RNC for verification.

Asa Hutchinson: The former two-term Arkansas governor was the final candidate to meet the RNC’s qualifications. Satisfying the polling requirements but slowly working on passing the donor threshold, Hutchinson said Sunday on CNN that he had finally surpassed 40,000 unique donors.

Mr Hutchinson is running in the mold of an old-school Republican and has differentiated himself from many of his GOP rivals in his willingness to criticize Mr Trump. He posted pleas on Twitter for $1 donations to help secure his slot.

John Eastman self-surrenders in Fulton County

10:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump’s former attorney John Eastman, a key architect of the scheme to change the results of the 2020 election, surrendered on criminal charges in Georgia on Tuesday.

The ex-Trump campaign legal mind was the second co-defendant of 19 known to have surrendered this week following the unsealing of a sprawling indictment last week charging Mr Trump, Mr Eastman and others with numerous felonies related to the election-tampering effort, including a violation of the state’s RICO law.

John Bowden reports.

Trump lawyer John Eastman surrenders in Fulton County

What’s next for Donald Trump after his Georgia indictment

10:20 , Namita Singh

Donald Trump will face yet another arraignment, this time in Fulton County, Georgia, after he was indicted on 13 charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.

On 14 August evening, Mr Trump was charged with violating the RICO Act as well as other charges alleging conspiracy, making false statements and filing false documents related to his combined efforts with 18 other named defendants in changing election results.

The charges stem from an investigation by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis into Mr Trump and his allies’ actions in the state in the days and weeks after the 2020 election.

These actions included an infamous phone call that Mr Trump made to Brad Raffensperger, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, in which Mr Trump asked him to “find” 11,780 votes. It also detailed a plot to install fake state electors.

Now, Mr Trump will have to add another series of court hearings for this case, including his official arraignment, to his already packed schedule.

Here’s what we know about what’s next for Mr Trump in the Georgia indictment.

What’s next for Donald Trump after his Georgia indictment?

How are candidates for debate shortlisted?

10:00 , Namita Singh

Donald Trump won’t be on the Republican debate stage on Wednesday. But the former president is driving the conversation on and off the debate stage anyway.

Trump supporters including representative Marjorie Taylor Greene will be in Milwaukee. There are questions about how many of his campaign surrogates will be allowed into Fox News’ spin room. The network has restricted their access unless they are the guests of another media organization.

Eight other candidates met the donor and polling qualifications to be on stage, according to the Republican National Committee. For those who didn’t, missing the debate could be a decisive moment in their campaigns.

Conservative radio host Larry Elder has said he plans to sue the RNC over being left out, despite what he says is proof that he qualified for the debate. It also wasn’t immediately clear what Miami Mayor Francis Suarez — who didn’t make the cut — would do, following his Iowa State Fair comments that he might drop out of the race if that happened.

To qualify for the 23 August debate, candidates needed to satisfy polling and donor requirements set by the RNC: at least one per cent in three national polls or a mix of national and early-state polls deemed acceptable by the committee, between 1 July and 21 August , and a minimum of 40,000 donors, with 200 in 20 or more states.

Candidates also needed to commit at least 48 hours before the Wednesday evening debate, according to RNC criteria, which also required participants to sign a pledge promising to support the party’s eventual nominee.

Trump teases ‘very busy’ night during GOP debate

09:40 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump has teased that he will be having a “very busy” night on Wednesday during the first Republican debate.

“I WILL BE VERY BUSY TOMORROW NIGHT - ENJOY!!!” he posted on Truth Social on Tuesday night.

Eight GOP presidential hopefuls will take to the stage in Wisconsin for the debate at 9pm ET.

Mr Trump is skipping the event – but is instead holding a rival, though pre-recorded, interview with Tucker Carlson at the time.

First mugshots of Trump codefendants released

09:22 , Rachel Sharp

The first mugshots of Donald Trump’s codefendants in the Georgia election interference case have been released.

Scott Hall and John Eastman were the first to surrender to authorities in Fulton County on Tuesday.

Who takes advantage of Donald Trump’s absence in the Republican debate

08:00 , Namita Singh

Eight Republican candidates will meet on the debate stage for the first time Wednesday night in what may be the biggest moment in the GOP’s young 2024 presidential primary so far.

The overwhelming front-runner in the contest, former president Donald Trump, won’t participate.He says he’s so far ahead that he’d be helping his opponents by showing up. But his absence also offers them opportunity.

Who is likely to gain from his absence? Report:

Who takes advantage of Donald Trump's absence and other things to watch in the Republican debate

GOP debate: What is the net worth of each candidate?

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahead of Wednesday’s showdown, here’s a guide to the personal wealth of those taking part, with a brief outline of how they made their fortunes.

Fellow candidates Will Hurd, Perry Johnson, Francis Suarez and Larry Elder have not been included as, at the time of writing, they had not met the threshold to earn spots on the debate stage.

What are the Republican presidential candidates’ net worths?

Trump won’t be at the GOP’s first presidential debate. But his presence will be felt

07:00 , Namita Singh

He’ll be missing from the stage, but former president and GOP frontrunner Donald Trump will nonetheless loom large at the first Republican presidential primary debate Wednesday night as the candidates hoping to take on Democrat Joe Biden in November face off for the first time.

Trump won't be at the GOP's first presidential debate. But his presence will be felt

A major witness in the Mar-a-Lago document case flipped his testimony after switching from Trump PAC lawyer

06:31 , Namita Singh

A key witness in the special counsel’s classified documents case against Donald Trump reversed his testimony and implicated the former president and his associates after switching from a lawyer paid for by a Trump PAC group, according to a filing from the special counsel’s office.

Last month, Yuscil Taveras, the former director of IT at Mar-a-Lago, identified in some court documents as Trump Employee 4, switched from his attorney Stanley Woodward to a public defender.

At the same time, he gave federal officials new statements they said implicated the former president and his employees Walt Nauta and Carlos de Oliviera in an alleged scheme to delete security footage relating to the the handling of classifed documents.

My colleague Josh Marcus has more:

A witness in the Mar-a-Lago case flipped testimony after switching from Trump lawyer

Fox News’ ability to pivot again tested by Trump's decision to back out of debate

06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

If 2023 has taught anything to the people running Fox News, it’s the importance of being able to pivot.

The decision by former President Donald Trump to skip Wednesday’s first debate of the 2024 presidential primary season likely deprives Fox of a huge late-summer audience. Even worse for the network, Trump has talked of appearing in an online interview with former Fox star Tucker Carlson at the same time.

Trump’s announcement on Sunday wasn’t necessarily a surprise. Fox debate moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum had been preparing for two events — one if he were there and one if he wasn’t.

Trump's decision to back out of debate tests Fox News' ability to pivot again

Recap: Trump says he will be arrested in Georgia on Thursday

04:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump will officially be arrested and booked on racketeering and conspiracy charges in Fulton County, Georgia on Thursday, one day before the court-ordered deadline for the ex-president and his 18 co-defendants to surrender to authorities.

Here’s what we know, so far...

Trump will be arrested in Georgia on Thursday for alleged efforts to subvert election

Viral video questioning DeSantis debate leaks appears to show him on edge

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

GOP presidential hopeful and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has once again found himself made a punching bag online after he was caught in an embarrassing video on the campaign trail.

Graig Graziosi reports.

DeSantis appears on edge in viral video questioning his debate leaks

Abortion right: What the GOP candidates have said

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The issue of abortion rights in the United States is staring the 2024 GOP presidential candidates in their faces as they prepare to kick their campaigns into high gear.

Since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark case Roe v Wade (1973) last summer, abortion has become a top concern for many voters.

Though the anti-abortion stance has long been associated with the Republican Party, approximately 61 per cent of adults in the US believe abortion should be legal in all or most cases, according to Pew Research Center – that statistic includes Republican and Democratic voters.

As Americans look toward their next Republican presidential nominee, no doubt many will be considering where the candidate stands on abortion when determining who they support.

Here is what each GOP presidential candidate has said on the issue.

What the GOP candidates have said about abortion rights

Mayor Francis Suarez unhappy about being excluded from debate

Tuesday 22 August 2023 23:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez echoes Larry Elder in his criticism of being excluded from tomorrow night’s Republican debate due to ineligible poll numbers but says he respects “the rules and process set forth by the RNC”.

In a statement, he said:

Throughout the debate verification process, my team was in touch with the RNC as we worked towards meeting the qualifications for the first debate.

On Thursday afternoon, in consultation with the RNC, we believed the polling requirement would be met by two polls that were yet to be reported.

On Monday night, we learned that a Cygnal poll would not be counted due to its affiliation with Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign, despite multiple published reports confirming the poll was not paid for by any campaign. Two polls were certified by the RNC - Kaplan and Morning Consult (Aug 11-13) - however, we believed an equivalent Morning Consult poll (July 1-3) showing me at over 1% would certainly be certified.

I am sorry that this debate will not include my perspectives from the largest growing voting block in our country - young, conservative Hispanics. Additionally, Republicans will not be able to hear my story of how conservative principles of keeping taxes low, keeping people safe and focusing on creating prosperity for all created the most successful big city in America.

I respect the rules and process set forth by the RNC, and I look forward to working with my party to ensure we win back the White House and restore the path to a brighter future for our country.

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website