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Former President Donald Trump responded to intense criticism from his primary opponents during the second Republican Party presidential debate by emphasizing his commitment to “saving” American autoworkers on the night of September 27th, rather than attending the debate due to his substantial lead in the primary polls.
Trump’s absence at the second Republican debate in Simi Valley, California disappointed his GOP primary opponents, who repeatedly called for his presence on stage to defend his administration’s record.
In the context of the 2024 US election, Trump defended his decision, saying, “I thought it was much more important, considering I have a 56-point lead, for me to address the concerns of the UAW (United Auto Workers) and the potential threat to their jobs posed by the Biden Administration’s transition to all-electric vehicles.” Trump shared these remarks with Fox News Digital on Wednesday night.
Speaking before a gathering of autoworkers in Clinton Township, Michigan, Trump passionately advocated for a future where automobiles are “Made in America,” expressing his belief in strong support for the autoworkers’ cause.
He remarked, “The crowd was incredible—unreal. I think we have great support to save the autoworker.”
During the debate, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie directly addressed Trump, criticizing his absence, saying, “Donald, I know you’re watching. You can’t help yourself. You’re ducking these things. And let me tell you what’s going to happen. You keep doing that, no one here’s going to call you Donald Trump anymore.” Christie humorously added, “We’re going to call you Donald Duck.”
Additionally, GOP presidential candidate Ron DeSantis also called out Trump for skipping the second primary debate.
Trump responded by stating that he hadn’t been watching the debate but dismissed the nickname Christie had given him, saying, “Anybody that would come up with that nickname shouldn’t be running for president.”
According to the most recent Fox News poll, 60% of Republican primary voters are supporting Trump for the GOP nomination, up from 53% in the previous survey in August. Other candidates receiving double-digit support in the poll include DeSantis at 13% and Ramaswamy at 11%. Nikki Haley has 5% support, while Mike Pence and Scott have 3% each. Christie is polling at 2%, with the remaining GOP candidates receiving less than 1%.
Furthermore, a new Washington Post/ABC poll conducted over the weekend shows Trump leading President Biden by 10 points in a head-to-head general election survey among voters. The poll suggests that if the 2024 presidential election were held today, Trump would win with 52% compared to Biden’s 42%.
