In a controversial move, FOX News has decided to ban surrogates for former President Donald Trump from the “spin room” following the first Republican primary debate.
In a memo obtained by The Hill on Tuesday, FOX News told Republican campaigns, that only surrogates for candidates who are participating in the debate will be granted automatic credentials for the post-debate “spin room.” This means that Trump, as well as candidates who did not meet the criteria to be on stage, will not have automatic access to the media area.
However, the memo does not explicitly prohibit Trump’s allies from attending the debate or the spin room. It states that people may attend as guests of other news organizations.
CNN reporter Alayna Treene posted on X:
Deleted a previous tweet to clarify my reporting: Fox News, which is hosting the first GOP primary debate, informed the Trump campaign on Monday they will no longer provide credentials to some Trump surrogates to attend the spin room given Trump is not planning on participating.
Several Trump advisers & top surrogates had been planning to attend both the debate & represent the former president in the spin room despite his absence Some of Trump’s surrogates are credentialed through outside media groups and will not be impacted.
Members of Trump’s campaign, including his senior advisers, were also planning on being in the spin room. But Fox News is in charge of credentials for the spin room. The RNC manages credentials for the actual debate, and sources said those tickets are still expected be honored.
Members of Trump’s teams and his surrogates, however, are still planning on traveling to Milwaukee and are working on a resolution with the network as well as the RNC, two Trump advisers told CNN.
The former president’s aides also believe they will be able to find new credentials, one of the advisers said, and say they are confident they will be in the spin room on Wednesday.
Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s eldest son, has confirmed that he will travel to Milwaukee for the debate, according to The Hill.
The spin room has long been a crucial part of the post-debate landscape, where campaign surrogates, journalists, and pundits gather to provide immediate analysis and spin the candidates’ performances. It serves as an opportunity for campaigns to shape the narrative, defend their candidate’s positions, and counter any negative press that may arise from the debate.
The exclusion of Trump’s surrogates from the spin room raises questions about the fairness and inclusivity of the media coverage surrounding the debate.
This decision comes after President Trump made it official on Sunday evening that he will not be participating in the Republican presidential debates.
Trump cited the latest poll, one released Sunday by CBS News/YouGov that has him up by 46 points above his nearest rival Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump added, “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had.”
The first GOP debate is scheduled for Wednesday night at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee and will hosted by the Fox News Channel. The second debate is scheduled for September 27 at the Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California and will be hosted by the Fox Business Network.
Trump’s statement posted to Truth Social, “New CBS POLL, just out, has me leading the field by “legendary” numbers. TRUMP 62%, 46 Points above DeSanctimonious (who is crashing like an ailing bird!), Ramaswamy 7%, Pence 5%, Scott 3%, Haley 2%, Sloppy Chris Christie 2%, “Aida” Hutchinson 1%. The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had, with Energy Independence, Strong Borders & Military, Biggest EVER Tax & Regulation Cuts, No Inflation, Strongest Economy in History, & much more. I WILL THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”
In another Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “Many people are asking whether or not I will be doing the DEBATES? ALL AMERICANS have been clamoring for a President of extremely High Intelligence. As everyone is aware, my Poll numbers, over a “wonderful” field of Republican candidates, are extraordinary. In fact, I am leading the runner up, whoever that may now be, by more than 50 Points. Reagan didn’t do it, and neither did others. People know my Record, one of the BEST EVER, so why would I Debate? I’M YOUR MAN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
Earlier this year, Trump said that he didn’t see the logic in sharing a debate stage given his significant lead in polls and the bias of network anchors against him and the MAGA movement. He questioned the necessity of subjecting himself to potential misrepresentation and criticism in debates.
“When you’re leading by seemingly insurmountable numbers, and you have the hostile Networks with angry TRUMP & MAGA hating anchors asking the ‘questions,’ why subject yourself to being libeled and abused?” Trump wrote.
While Trump did not confirm an interview with Tucker Carlson to counter the debate Wednesday, ABC News reported he has already taped an interview as counter-programming.
Trump has pre-recorded sit-down intv w/ Tucker Carlson, as counter-programming to 1st GOP debate, source tells ABC
Some candidates putting on pressure -Chris Christie calls Trump a “coward”
Trump has until Friday to turn himself in to Georgia jail. Debate on Wed@GMA @GioBenitez pic.twitter.com/XDbisr62kG— Selina Wang (@selinawangtv) August 20, 2023