But Trump, leading the polls, asks: 'why would I Debate? I'M YOUR MAN.'

Some political experts warn the plan could give rivals a chance to surge

Donald Trump appears likely to skip the GOP presidential primary debate on Wednesday, in a calculated move that some political experts warn could backfire.

On Friday, the New York Times reported that Trump plans to upstage his rivals by skipping the event, hosted by Fox News, and instead will sit for an online interview with the network's former host Tucker Carlson.

In posts on his Truth Social site, Trump has been vocal about the possibility of skipping the debate, citing his huge national polling lead over the field of GOP rivals.

But Politico's Senior Campaign and Elections Editor Steven Shepard argued in an analysis that passing on the debate 'probably won't work' in Trump's favor.

He said the sheer number of eyeballs tuning in to the debate could boost candidates currently lagging behind Trump, especially if they perform better than expected.

'Much of the movement in recent primary fights has been marked in time by the nationally televised debates,' he wrote.

'Candidates sink or swim based on their debate performances — and the first debate has often been the catalyst for the first real changes in those races.'

Trump has a commanding lead for the GOP primary in national polls, though experts say the first primary debate often drives big shifts in polling

In posts on his Truth Social site, Trump (seen August 13) has been vocal about the possibility of skipping the debate, citing his huge national polling lead over the field of GOP rivals

Trump's absence could mean a polling bump for Ron DeSantis, who is a distant second in the GOP field, if the Florida governor offers a strong debate performance next week.

However, there are also risks for DeSantis: With frontrunner Trump gone, DeSantis will be the focus of attacks from the rest of the field, and his ability to successfully parry will be critical.

Meanwhile, Republican strategist and pollster Frank Luntz told DailyMail.com that he believes Trump's legal woes may be the former president's real reason for skipping the debate.

Trump faces four separate criminal cases, and has until Friday to surrender in Georgia, where he was charged over an alleged plot to overturn the state's 2020 election results. He denies any wrongdoing.

'Frankly, I don’t see how he can do any presidential debate. I don’t think his lawyers will let him. He puts himself in serious legal jeopardy every time he speaks, and a debate situation is even worse,' Luntz said in an email.

'Moreover, he’s afraid of Chris Christie. If Trump is so cocky that he takes a debate stage, Governor Christie will annihilate him,' he added.

Christie, who is running a campaign largely based on bashing Trump, has already lashed out over the frontrunner's likely absence from the debate stage.

In a post on X, the former New Jersey governor called Trump a 'certified loser' and 'verified coward'.

'If he believes he should be the nominee, if he believes that he's got such a great record, if he believes he's the best person to go against Joe Biden, then show up on Wednesday night and stop being such a coward,' Christie told MSNBC on Friday.

'If what he were saying were true, which is that he's got this great record as president and that he's so far ahead, why wouldn't you come on to the stage and take a victory lap?'

Officially, Trump's debate plans have not been confirmed yet, according to a campaign spokesman.

Trump's absence could mean a polling bump for Ron DeSantis, but it comes with risks as well, as the Florida governor will likely be the focus of attacks from the rest of the field

Trump slightly left the door cracked open Friday to appear at Wednesday's debate in Milwaukee, but The New York Times reported that he'll likely not go

However for months, Trump has suggested he would snub the first debate - arguing that he is polling so far ahead of any of his competitors that a debate is pointless.

'Many people are asking whether or not I will be doing the DEBATES?' he posted to Truth Social Friday. 'People know my Record, one of the BEST EVER, so why would I Debate? I'M YOUR MAN. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!'

In the same post, Trump said that 'ALL AMERICANS have been clamoring for a President of extremely High Intelligence.'

'As everyone is aware, my Poll numbers, over a 'wonderful' field of Republican candidates, are extraordinary,' he continued. 'In fact, I am leading the runner up, whoever that may now be, by more than 50 Points.

'Reagan didn't do it, and neither did others,' Trump also said.

Trump was referring to Reagan's decision in 1980 to skip the Des Moines Register's Republican debate - which was the first televised GOP debate ever.

In Reagan's case the decision briefly backfired, after George H.W. had a good night and eventually won the Iowa caucuses.

Reagan, however, became the eventual nominee and made Bush his running mate.

During the 2016 campaign Trump skipped a primary debate in Iowa as well, because he was - like he is now - feuding with Fox News Channel.

Former President Donald Trump participated in all but one of the GOP primary debates during the 2016 cycle

In 2016, Trump was in a spat with then-Fox News host Megyn Kelly over her tough questions in an earlier debate.

In this election cycle, the New York Times' sources said Trump is likely to skip the second GOP presidential debate as well.

It will be held on September 27 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.

The library's prominent speaker series has snubbed Trump but invited his critics, including former Rep. Liz Cheney, one of two now former GOP lawmakers to serve on the House select committee on January 6.