Donald Trump missing the Republican primaries could play into the hands of Joe Biden, according to Fox News anchors.
Television host Steve Doocy suggested that by not attending the debates between Republican hopefuls, Trump could be giving Biden a get out of jail free card to miss any future presidential debates. It comes after Trump confirmed he will not attend any of the upcoming primaries.
Making the announcement on social media on Sunday, the 45th US President cited his polling figures among Republicans. He claimed they showed he had “legendary” numbers.
Speaking on Fox and Friends, Doocy said: “By skipping the debates, though, Donald Trump may actually be helping Joe Biden because he’s giving Joe Biden an excuse for not debating Donald Trump.
“That’s one of the things that Ronna McDaniel told the former president when she was trying to get him to do the first debate. But he said, ‘nope, not going to do it.'”
Co-host Ainsley Earhardt queried Trump’s reason for withdrawing from the primaries. She wondered whether his legal team had encouraged him not to do them in case he said something that could incriminate him after he has been indicted in a number of states.
She said: “He’s also being indicted four times. He might not want to get on stage because his lawyers might say you can’t talk about it.”
While fellow host Brian Kilmeade reminded his colleagues Trump had recently scrapped a press conference on the guidance of his attorneys.
Salon reports Doocy warned Trump later changing his mind and participating in future debates however “will look like he’s jumping in because he’s losing.”
Fox and Friends discussed the former US leader in a week that has seen the relationship between the politician and broadcaster strained. Trump last week lashed out at Fox for the pictures it uses of him.
He said the network: “purposely show the absolutely worst pictures of me, especially the big ‘orange’ one with my chin pulled way back.”
