Echoing Trump's Complaints Of Bias, RNC Pulls Out Of Commission For Presidential Debates

The Republican National Committee announced Thursday that it will be withdrawing from future presidential debates over what it says are unaddressed complaints about bias in their format.

RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said that previous requests to the Commission on Presidential Debates, the organization responsible for organizing the debate, were left ignored. In response, she said the party would search for "newer, better" platforms for future debates.

"The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is biased and has refused to enact simple and common sense reforms to help ensure fair debates including hosting debates before voting begins and selecting moderators who have never worked for candidates on the debate stage," said McDaniel in a press release announcing the decision.

By removing the RNC from CPD-led debates, McDaniel is following through on an earlier threat in January when she threatened to suspend RNC participation in the debates.

In both her letters to the CPD, McDaniel listed complaints about the scheduling of debates until after early voting begins, changes to debate formats that she said were done without informing presidential candidates, and for biased statements by CPD board members against then-President Donald Trump.

One particular point in the RNC letter that echoed criticisms made by Trump relates the moderators chosen to question the candidates. In his initial election bid and run for re-election, Trump has complained about moderators with previous experience working for Democratic administrations.

In 2016, former President Donald Trump railed against the CPD because one of its then co-chairs, Mike McCurry, was a former press aide in the Clinton White House. The current two co-chairs are both former officials, who served in administrations of both parties.

In 2020, Trump declined to appear at his second debate with Joe Biden, opting instead for a rally with his supporters. One of his complaints at the time was about the selection of to allow C-SPAN’s Steve Scully to moderate, pointing to Scully’s work decades prior for Biden. Trump also accused moderators Chris Wallace, a host at his Fox News, and NBC News’ Kristen Welker of being biased against him.

The CPD was established in 1987 as a nonpartisan organization to set rules for presidential debates. Its board is made up of a roster of members close to both parties to buttress its image of nonpartisanship.

It remains unclear how this will impact future presidential debates, but McDaniel said that the party would not be forgoing presidential debates altogether. Instead, she said the RNC would instead search for a new host that can sponsor the debates for the 2024 presidential race.

"We know that when Republicans have a free and fair forum, we win because our policies are best for the American people," said McDaniel in her press statement. "We look forward to exploring other avenues for candidates to have a free and fair forum for all Americans."