“Donald Trump Is a Coward” – Former President Faces Fierce Backlash Over Debate Avoidance

Gabriel RomanOct 29, 2023

Minute Read

The political arena is heating up once again. Former President Donald Trump decided to skip some primary GOP debates. Although he has not clarified his reasoning, many people have speculated on the reason. One of these people includes Adam Kinzinger, a former Representative for the Republican Party. According to him, Trump is too “scared” to appear at the debates.

Kinzinger’s Take

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Former Republican Representative Adam Kinzinger is currently a prominent figure on CNN. He believes that Trump’s absence from the debates is rooted in fear. Kinzinger’s exact words on the matter were, “Donald Trump is a coward. He’s scared to death of Chris Christie.” He further remarked that Trump’s actions clearly portray his hesitancy.

Christie’s Potential Impact

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Clearly, Kinzinger has confidence in Chris Christie’s capability to dominate the debate floor. In Kinzinger’s eyes, the former New Jersey governor is someone who could boldly “bring the show and point out the cowardice of Donald Trump.” Kinzinger feels Christie’s presence alone is enough to challenge Trump’s boldness.

Beyond Christie

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However, Kinzinger also argued that Trump’s debate avoidance isn’t solely due to Christie. While he highlights Trump’s apparent fear of Christie, Kinzinger also suggests that Trump’s reasons for steering clear of the debates might be deeper. He claims it could include concerns beyond just one individual.

Kinzinger’s Critique of Trump

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Drawing attention to the party’s recent track record, Kinzinger said, “The Republicans have done nothing but lose since Donald Trump.” This is not just a statement of fact for him but a challenge. Kinzinger implies that if Trump wants support, he needs to bravely face his constituents and justify his stance.

Scarborough Weighs In

Supporting Kinzinger’s perspective, MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough didn’t hold back his thoughts. He, too, sees Trump’s decision to avoid debates as a sign of his insecurity. Scarborough was clear when he commented that Trump “will not have the guts to go on stage with Chris Christie anywhere.” They both agreed on Trump’s lack of nerve in the face of strong opposition.

Christie’s Anticipation

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Long before the debate season kicked off, Christie predicted Trump’s actions. He suggested that Trump would avoid the debates. Following the news that Trump would not appear at the debates, Christie tweeted, “Surprise, surprise…the guy is running scared and hiding from the debate stage.” He also called Trump a “certified loser, verified coward.”

Joe Walsh’s Perspective

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Joe Walsh and Kinzinger both labeled Trump as a coward. However, Walsh believes Trump’s reasoning isn’t as straightforward as it seems. He said, “I agree with my friend Adam Kinzinger that Donald Trump is a coward. Completely. […] Trump isn’t afraid of Chris Christie. Not at all. He’s skipping the debate because he has to be THE story.”

Christie Challenges Trump

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Chris Christie isn’t one to step back from confronting Trump. Directly calling him out on his logic, he posed a challenging question to the former president, stating, “If what he was saying were true, which is that he’s got this great record as president… why wouldn’t you come on to the stage and take a victory lap?”

Christie on Trump’s Defense

Trump’s reasoning for not providing certain documents didn’t sit well with Christie. Referring to Trump’s claim of being too busy to respond to a grand jury subpoena, Christie sarcastically remarked about the trivialities the former president was engrossed in, like sorting out “golf shirts and pants.” He later added,” I think the problem is going to be, for him over time, is that people are just not going to buy it.”

Trump’s Truth Social Declaration

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In a direct response to the controversy, Donald Trump took to his own platform, Truth Social, to address the nation. He declared his previous term as a success. Then, Trump stated, “The public knows who I am & what a successful Presidency I had.” Apparently, this was his justification for why he would “THEREFORE NOT BE DOING THE DEBATES!”

Trump’s Media Strategy

Seemingly unbothered by the first primary GOP debate, Trump appeared on a different stage. While other Republicans sparred in the debate, Trump sat down for an exclusive interview with popular TV host Tucker Carlson. This was strategically timed to overlap with the debate, diverting media attention.

Trump’s Uncertainty

Questions continue to swirl around the former president’s intentions for future GOP debates. Having already skipped the second scheduled debate, it leaves the public in suspense. Speculation is rife, but no definitive answers have emerged on when, or even if, he will make a debate appearance.

Accusations Against Trump

In response to the debate controversy, some online users have questioned Trump’s bravery and authenticity. One particular comment caught people’s attention. “Trump hides behind an army of lawyers. Why didn’t he lead the insurrection himself on 6 January? He let others fight for him while he was in the White House.”

Praise for Kinzinger

However, some users didn’t focus on Trump and instead chose to share their thoughts on Kinzinger. One user expressed their admiration for Adam Kinzinger. One user echoed the feelings of many by stating, “Kinzinger’s right as usual… Why isn’t HE running for anything? He’s one of the few Republicans I can stand these days.”

Questions Over Trump’s Presidential Mindset

There’s a notable voice among users that feels Trump wasn’t prepared for his presidential term. One user pointed out, “Donald Trump lost it years before he took the Presidency. He never considered it until the Electoral College made it a reality.” Other users agreed, saying, “He avoided the draft, and he mocks brave vets who suffered for America. Pathetic!”

An Obvious Trump Character Trait?

Some find Trump’s behavior to be so predictable that it’s almost a given. One comment noted, “Saying Trump is a coward is like saying water is wet.” For some, Trump’s apparent fear of debate is nothing new. Many of them felt that he had shown to be quite cowardly before with his other actions.

Calls for Change in the Capital

Among the criticisms, there are pleas for change in the political landscape. One frustrated user said, “Need new blood in Washington and some Business thinking and COMMON SENSE. SICK and TIRED of HEARING ALL THAT’s GOING ON and NOTHING BENEFICIAL FOR OUR COUNTRY.”

Defending Trump

However, not everyone is against Trump. Some believe in his transparency, with one supporter exclaiming, “How could TRUMP be a coward? He ain’t hiding anything!” Other users shared similar feelings, arguing that Trump appeared to be a more transparent leader than Kinzinger. This showcases the divisive nature of the entire debate.