How to watch the first Republican presidential primary debate

Republican presidential hopefuls will take the stage Wednesday night in the first 2024 presidential primary debate.

While former President Trump remains the front-runner for the GOP nomination, his rivals are hoping this debate will help them make a name for themselves as they balance trying to separate themselves from Trump without turning away his supporters.

Trump will not be on stage, though. He announced Wednesday morning that a recorded interview with Tucker Carlson will be posted online as the debate begins.

Candidates needed to meet certain requirements set by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to be able to participate in Wednesday’s debate. To qualify, candidates need at least 40,000 unique donors to their presidential campaign committee, with at least 200 from 20 or more states and territories.

They also must be polling at 1 percent or higher in at least three authorized national polls or at 1 percent or higher in two national polls together with one “early state poll” from two “carve out” states recognized by the RNC. In addition, they must sign a loyalty pledge to support whoever becomes the eventual Republican nominee.

Here’s what you need to know about the first GOP debate:

When is the debate?

The debate will start at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday. It is at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum.

Who is hosting the debate? 

Fox News is hosting the debate, with network hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum moderating it.

Where can I watch it?

The debate will be covered across all platforms operated by the Fox News network, including Fox Business Network, Fox News Digital, Fox’s website, the Fox Nation streaming service and Fox News Audio.

The RNC also said it would be livestreamed on Rumble, a video-sharing service popular with conservatives.

What candidates will participate?

At least eight of the GOP presidential candidates have met the requirements to qualify for the debate, as of Monday.

Republican presidential candidate Asa Hutchinson announced Sunday he is the latest candidate to qualify for the debate. Hutchinson, the former Arkansas governor, said in an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union” that he has surpassed the 40,000 individual donor threshold and previously met the polling criteria.

Hutchinson is expected to join Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Vice President Mike Pence, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), conservative entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum on the debate stage Wednesday.

Trump notably will not be on the debate stage.

Where will Trump be?

Trump confirmed Sunday that he will not attend the debate and floated the possibility he will skip future debates, citing his comfortable lead in the polls as a reason not to do it.

On Wednesday morning, the former president wrote on Truth Social that his interview with Carlson, which was taped several days ago, will air at 8:55 p.m.

Since Carlson left Fox News earlier this year, he launched an online version of his prime-time show on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.