Trump announced: "I will not participate in the Republican debate"

Disappointment for the candidates: Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced this morning (Monday) that he will not participate in the Republican party's primary debates, which are scheduled to take place ahead of the upcoming January vote. Trump's announcement comes two days before the planned first confrontation, which will be held on the night between Wednesday and Thursday.

In a post he wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump referred to the election poll published last night, which positioned him as the leading candidate in the primaries. "The new poll places me with legendary numbers," he said. "The public already knows who I am and what I accomplished during my presidency. As a result, I will not participate in the debates."

While Trump won't participate in this week's debate in Milwaukee, the other candidates in the primaries will indeed take part in the debates. In Trump's absence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who came in second in the polls of support, is expected to be the focus of the event. Also participating will be former Vice President Mike Pence, former U.S. Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Senator Tim Scott, former North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, former Mississippi Governor Asa Hutchinson, and businessman Perry Johnson.