Renowned television host Tucker Carlson has sparked anticipation among political enthusiasts as he prepares to host a high-profile forum in Iowa, featuring several potential presidential candidates for the 2024 elections. However, the absence of the pack’s frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, from the event has left many wondering about the significance of his decision.
The FAMiLY Leadership Summit, scheduled to take place in Des Moines, will see Carlson engaging in interviews with six prominent figures in the political landscape on Friday. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida, former Vice President Mike Pence, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, and former governors Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson are all expected to participate in thought-provoking discussions with the former Fox News host.
The conspicuous absence of Donald Trump from the roster, however, has raised eyebrows. Event organizer Bob Vander Plaats confirmed the former president’s decision to skip the summit via a tweet on Tuesday morning, revealing, “I learned last night that @realDonaldTrump will NOT attend our Leadership Summit this Friday. Thus, our lineup is set.”
Vander Plaats, known for his candidness and willingness to critique Trump, has been vocal about his concerns regarding the former president’s focus on the 2020 election and the alienation of the Republican base on the topic of abortion. In a May interview with NewsNation, Vander Plaats expressed his dissatisfaction with Trump’s response to the pro-life issue during a CNN town hall event, referring to it as a “disaster.” He went on to highlight the resulting opportunity for other candidates to emerge as viable contenders for the Republican nomination, claiming that “the Iowa caucus door has flung wide open” for prospective nominees.
While Donald Trump may be absent from the FAMiLY Leadership Summit, he is set to make an appearance at the Turning Point Action conference in Florida, coincidentally attended by Tucker Carlson as well. However, it’s worth noting that the former president and the esteemed television host will not engage in a joint discussion but will instead deliver separate speeches at the event.
In response to inquiries, Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, stated to Mediaite, “President Trump was in Iowa last week and will be back next week. Unfortunately, there is a scheduling conflict, and the President will be in Florida this weekend headlining the premier national young voter conference with Turning Point Action conference while DeSantis is nowhere to be found.”
I thought his answer to the pro-life issue on the CNN town hall with Kaitlan Collins over that was a disaster as well,” Vander Plaats told NewsNation in May. “That’s why I think the Iowa caucus door has flung wide open for people to take a look at who should be our nominee.
I learned last night that @realDonaldTrump will NOT attend our Leadership Summit this Friday. Thus, our lineup is set: @votetimscott @AsaHutchinson @Mike_Pence @NikkiHaley @VivekGRamaswamy and @RonDeSantis will have visionary, one on one, discussion with @TuckerCarlson #FLS23…
— Bob Vander Plaats (@bobvanderplaats) July 11, 2023
