Trump announces South Florida rally to counter third Republican debate

Former President Donald Trump will host a campaign rally at the same time as next month’s third Republican primary debate, his campaign announced Friday, reaffirming the 2024 GOP frontrunner’s absence from the RNC-sponsored event.

The 7 p.m. Trump rally in Hialeah will take place approximately 10 miles northwest of the Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Miami, where his rivals will square off in the 8 p.m. debate co-hosted by NBC News.

Trump has said he will be boycotting the RNC’s debates, citing his wide polling lead, and will do so “until he changes his mind,” campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung previously told The Post.

The former president missed the first RNC-sponsored debate in Wisconsin this past August to have an interview with Tucker Carlson broadcast on X, and disregarded the second debate in California last month to deliver a speech in Michigan.

His campaign has also called for an end to all debates so the committee can “train our fire” on defeating President Biden.

RNC spokesperson Madison Gesiotto Gilbert said the committee hopes to see the 77-year-old at future events to share a “contrasting vision” for the Republican Party.

Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy has also floated that he may not attend the third debate.

The 38-year-old multimillionaire has expressed frustration at the RNC’s rules barring him from engaging in outside debates after he was stopped from appearing alongside former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie on Fox News earlier this month.

As late as Wednesday, Ramaswamy had not committed to attending the Miami event if he qualifies

“I’m considering my options,” the presidential longshot told Fox News.

At the second debate, Ramaswamy was joined by former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.

To qualify for the third debate, candidates will have to receive contributions from 70,000 unique donors with at least 200 unique donors per state in 20 or more states/ jurisdictions, and hit at least 4% in specific polls.