The Republican National Committee declared on Thursday that they unanimously voted in favor of requiring GOP presidential candidate to abstain presidential debates sanctioned by the Commission on Presidential DebatesThe process has been overseen by the, for many decades.

Ronna McDaniel (RNC Chair) stated in a statement that “Debates play an important role in the democratic process and that the RNC remains committed to fair and free debates.” “The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) is biased. They have refused to adopt simple and sensible reforms to ensure fair debates, including host debates before the voting begins, and selection of moderators that have not worked for any candidates on stage.

Elle stated that the RNC would “find better, more effective debate platforms” to allow Republican candidates to present their cases.

An official at the RNC confirmed that Republican presidential candidates will be required to agree to a promise by the RNC that they would only participate in party-approved primary and general elections debates. First reported on by The Wall Street Journal reported.

Former President Donald Trump was bitter about the non-partisan commission. It is composed of members from both political parties. In the lead-up to 2020, Trump withdrew from a debate the commission hosted that October after organizers made it virtual following his Covid diagnosis.

In late 2019, he tweeted thatThe commission was “stacked with Trump Haters & Never Trumpers,” and he suggested that he would skip the debates altogether. After the second presidential debate in Cleveland in September 2020 Trump had his revenge on Chris Wallace (then a Fox News host). tweeting that the event amounted to a “two on one.”

Trump tried to repeatedly blame the date of the debate for his declining poll numbers. Trump was adamant that he would not be held responsible for his declining poll numbers on the dates of the debate. argued that televised debates would help him recover, but that bounce did not materialize.

In January the RNC wrote to CPD asking them to have a public debate prior to early voting. They also asked that matchups not be held after state deadlines were met to send absentee votes to overseas and military voters. RNC demanded that the board be limited in term and banned from staff and officials of the commission from engaging in partisan politics.

The RNC also demanded that the Commission transparently select moderators and create a Code of Conduct for debate moderators. RNC stated that if CPD didn’t comply with its demands, they would withdraw from its sanctioned discussions.

The CPD responded to January’s RNC by stating in a statement, “Directly with presidential and vice-presidential candidates who are eligible for the CPD general election debates.”

According to the statement, “The CPD will plan for 2024 on the basis of fairness and neutrality with a strong commitment to the American people learning about the candidates”