RNC Plans to Ban Its Nominees From Joining Presidential Debates

(Bloomberg) -- The Republican National Committee plans to change its rules to prohibit its presidential nominees from participating in debates sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates after former President Donald Trump tangled with the commission.

In a letter Thursday to the commission’s co-chairs, RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said the party has lost faith that its nominees will be treated fairly after communications with the commission since last June about reforming the debate process, including new rules for how moderators conduct debates.

“The RNC has a duty to ensure that its future presidential nominees have the opportunity to debate their opponents on a level playing field,” McDaniel wrote in the letter to the commission. 

The commission said in a statement it deals directly with candidates for president and vice president who qualify for participation in its general election debates.

“The CPD’s plans for 2024 will be based on fairness, neutrality, and a firm commitment to help the American public learn about the candidates and the issues,” the commission said in its statement.

Trump has complained about debate moderators being unfair to him and backed out of a scheduled commission debate in October 2020 after his campaign rejected plans by the commission for the candidates to appear remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

©2022 Bloomberg L.P.