Former Fox News personality Tucker Carlson will host a forum with Republican presidential candidates in Des Moines, Iowa, on Friday in what will be one of his highest-profile gigs since being fired from the conservative network in April. .
But current GOP front-runner Donald Trump is not expected to show up at the event hosted by conservative Blaze Media and conservative organization Family Leader, whose CEO Bob Vander Plaats said in May it was time for Republicans to leave the former president.
Carlson, who now hosts a Twitter show, will speak “one-on-one” with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Sen. Tim Scott (RS.C.) and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, according to Blaze Media.
It’s unclear why Trump won’t appear.
The former president is currently polling about 30 points higher than his closest rival, DeSantis.
Last month, Trump said he might not even participate in the first GOP primary debate in Milwaukee on Aug. 23 because of the lead.
He called Fox News, which is hosting the event, a “hostile network” and questioned why he should give opponents “time to make statements” when they are so far behind him in the polls.