Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 10:11pm on 24 Aug 2023,Thursday International
Former President US Donald Trump skipped the first Republican presidential debate on Thursday, where his potential 2024 rivals clashed over issues like abortion and Ukraine. Trump, who holds a commanding lead in GOP polls, instead gave a rambling interview claiming he did not want to face harassment at the debate. Later on Thursday, Trump is set to turn himself into Georgia authorities on charges of electoral fraud related to his false claims of victory over Joe Biden in 2020. The debate saw political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy, 38, grab attention by claiming he is the only candidate not "bought and paid for." Trump's interview garnered over 120 million views, underscoring his continued sway among Republicans. In summary, Trump's absence cast a shadow over the Republican debate as rivals struggle to close the gap ahead of his looming Georgia arrest.
