Fox Business To Host Second GOP Primary Debate

The Republican National Committee has picked Fox Business to host the second GOP presidential primary debate, which is set to be held next month at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute in Simi Valley, Calif.

Politico reports the decision means that Fox networks will televise the first two debates. The first debate, to be held Aug. 23 in Milwaukee, will be broadcast on Fox Business’ sister station, Fox News.

The committee also announced that Univision and Rumble will be partners for the second debate. Rumble, a conservative-leaning competitor to YouTube, is also set to broadcast the first showdown.

By tapping Rupert Murdoch-run Fox for the first two debates, the committee is looking to reach a broad swath of Republican voters who regularly tune into the network’s stations. But Fox News’ specific role in the first debate has gotten pushback from former President Donald Trump, who has warred with the network over what he has called its unfair coverage of him since leaving the White House.

Trump has yet to commit to appearing at this month’s debate, and Fox News officials, including network president and executive editor Jay Wallace, recently met with the former president at his Bedminster Golf Club in hopes of persuading him to participate. Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel has also encouraged Trump to attend.

Trump has also downplayed the prospect he will appear at the second debate, to be held Sept. 27. In April, he complained on his favored social media platform, Truth Social, that the Reagan Library is chaired by Fred Ryan, who at the time was the publisher of the Washington Post.