GOP Presidential Candidate Debate In Milwaukee: What To Know

MILWAUKEE, WI — The leading Republican candidates vying for a chance to win the White House in 2024 are converging in Milwaukee on Wednesday evening for the first primary debate of the election season, hosted by Fox News.

Fox News' Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum will moderate the debate, which will be aired from 8 to 10 p.m. Central from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, with coverage planned across Fox television networks and other online media. An online live stream of the debate will be available on the video-sharing website Rumble.

The Republican National Convention on Monday said former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum are all expected to attend the debate.

But Burgum may end up missing the first primary debate after he was injured playing basketball with staff in Milwaukee on Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.

Notably, former President Donald Trump has decided to skip the debate with his peers in Milwaukee in favor of a pre-recorded interview with Tucker Carlson, The New York Times first reported last week. Tucker has published one-on-one interviews with political candidates on social media ever since he was ousted as a host for Fox News in April.

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Trump said the interview would be released on social media — on X, formerly known as Twitter — just as the debate begins, according to a report by The Hill.

This won't be the first time Trump has skipped a debate, according to NPR. In 2016, Trump decided against a Fox event hosted by Megyn Kelly after previously making a comment about the host saying there was "blood coming out of her wherever."

Traffic alert

The debate will bring traffic to much of Milwaukee's downtown. Police said these streets wil lbe closed, and no parking zones with tow-away zones will start at 3 p.m. Wednesday on both sides of the street:

• N. 6th Street from W. McKinley Avenue to W. State Street.
• W. Juneau Street from N. 6th Street to N. MLK Drive.
• N. 5th Street from W. McKinley Avenue to W. Juneau Street.
• N. Vel R. Phillips from W. McKinley Avenue to W. Juneau Street.
• N. Vel R. Phillips to N. MLK Drive (W. Highland Avenue)

Screening checkpoints will be present for people trying to park in these areas:

• Parking structure on N. 5th Street / W. McKinley Street.
• Parking for business on N. Vel Phillips / W. State Street and N. MLK Drive / W. Highland Avenue.

Protesters were also expected to descend on the area near Fiserv Forum Wednesday evening.

See also:

• Protest Against 'Reactionary Agenda' Planned For Milwaukee GOP Debate
• Burgum May Miss GOP Debate After Hurting Himself Playing Basketball
• Fox News To Host Show From Brookfield Restaurant After GOP Debate
• 8 Candidates Expected At Milwaukee's GOP Debate, But Not Trump
• Milwaukee Chosen For 2024 Republican National Convention
• Dates Set For 2024 Republican National Convention In Milwaukee
• Community Groups Call On Leaders To Oppose Milwaukee Bid For 2024 RNC