Trump is not planning to join his 2024 GOP rivals on the debate stage in Milwaukee and is considering doing a Tucker Carlson interview instead: ‘Why would I Debate? I’M YOUR MAN’

Former President Donald Trump does not plan to attend the first Republican primary debate and will likely sit down for an online interview with former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson instead.

That reports the New York Times Friday on Trump’s plan to try to beat the GOP primary field in the Fox News-sponsored debate by sitting down with the conservative network’s renegade ex-anchor.

Carlson was pushed off the network and his popular primetime show in late April and has been broadcasting via Twitter ever since.

For months, Trump has suggested he reject the first debate — arguing that he is far ahead of all his competitors in the polls.

“A lot of people ask if I’m going to do the DEBATES?” he posted on Truth Social Friday. ‘People know my record, one of the BEST EVER, so why debate? I’M YOUR MAN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Former President Donald Trump (left) does not plan to attend the first Republican primary debate and will instead likely sit down for an online interview with former Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson (right)

Trump left the door ajar on Friday to appear at Wednesday’s debate in Milwaukee, but The New York Times reported he probably won’t go

In the same post, Trump said that “ALL AMERICANS have been clamoring for a president of extremely high intelligence.”

“As everyone knows, my Poll numbers, on a ‘wonderful’ field of Republican candidates, are extraordinary,” he continued. “In fact, I’m more than 50 points ahead of second place, whoever that is.

“Reagan didn’t do it, and neither did others,” Trump also said.

Trump was referring to Reagan’s 1980 decision to skip the Des Moines Register Republican debate—the first ever televised GOP debate.

In Reagan’s case, the decision momentarily backfired.

George HW had a good night and ended up winning the Iowa caucuses.

Former President Donald Trump participated in all but one GOP primary during the 2016 cycle

However, Reagan became the final candidate and made Bush his running mate.

During the 2016 campaign, Trump also skipped a primary debate in Iowa because — as he is now — he argued with the Fox News Channel over the network’s inclusion of moderator Megyn Kelly.

New York Times sources said Trump will likely skip the second GOP presidential debate as well.

It is held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

The library’s prominent speaker series has denounced Trump but has invited critics, including former Representative Liz Cheney, one of two now-former GOP lawmakers, to serve on the House Select Committee on Jan. 6.