Trump Won’t Debate, But He’s Still in the Spotlight With Tucker Interview

Former President Donald J. Trump will not be on the debate stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night. Instead, he will be at his private golf club in Bedminster, N.J., and aides have not said if he will be watching.

But voters will still have a chance to hear from him, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host who posts episodes of a show on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

The interview was recorded at some point in the last two weeks at Mr. Trump’s club, a person briefed on the matter said. The interview is expected to be posted around the time the debate — the first of the Republican primary season — begins.

Both Mr. Carlson and Mr. Trump have been feuding with Fox News, which is hosting the debate.

Mr. Carlson was pushed from his popular 8 p.m. show by officials at the network, and is still being paid the remainder of his contract.

Mr. Trump, who has a wide lead in early polling, has complained bitterly about the network’s coverage for many months, and has suggested he may not participate in any debates. But that’s especially true for Wednesday and the second debate, which will be hosted by Fox Business.

Mr. Trump is also likely to draw attention away from day-after coverage of the debate on Thursday, albeit for reasons less welcome to him: He is expected to travel to Georgia to be booked on the racketeering charges he faces there stemming from his efforts to remain in power after his 2020 election loss.