Debates took place among candidates in the campaign for the Republican Party's nomination for the president in the 2020 United States presidential election. The Republican National Committee (RNC) did not schedule any official RNC-sanctioned primary debates, and incumbent President Donald Trump stated that he would not debate any primary challenger. Thus, the debates held among Trump's primary challengers were instead sponsored by private organizations.
The Republican National Committee (RNC) chose not to schedule any official RNC-sanctioned primary debates.[1] On May 3, 2018, the RNC eliminated its debate committee for the 2020 election cycle, as John Hammond, the co-chairman of the RNC's subcommittee governing the primary process, stated that it would be less relevant "as we continue to support the President and the vice president and the current administration".[2] Trump also stated on September 9, 2019, that he was not willing to debate any primary challenger, saying, "I'm not looking to give them any credibility."[3]
Business Insider announced on September 10, 2019 that it would host a debate on September 24, inviting Trump and his main primary challengers.[4][5]
Politicon, a nonpartisan political convention, announced on October 22, 2019 that it would host a debate on October 26 among Trump's three main primary challengers.[6]
The Forbes Under 30 Summit hosted a debate on October 28 between Mark Sanford, Bill Weld, and Joe Walsh.[7]
Business Insider's 2020 Republican primary debate was held on September 24, 2019, at the headquarters of Business Insider in New York City. It was streamed on Business Insider Today, their daily Facebook Watch show and streamed live on the Business Insider website. It was hosted by Business Insider CEO Henry Blodget and moderated by its politics editor Anthony Fisher, and its opinion columnist Linette Lopez.[5][9]
The debate was characterized by a focus on Trump, with both attending candidates spending the majority of their time criticizing him.[11] Other topics that were discussed included climate change, Iran, and automation.[10]
Politicon's 2020 Republican primary debate was held on October 26, 2019, at Politicon in Nashville, Tennessee. Sanford, Walsh and Weld were all in attendance.[12]
^Almukhtar, Sarah; Martin, Jonathan; Stevens, Matt (February 6, 2019). "2020 Presidential Election Calendar". The New York Times. Retrieved September 11, 2019.