Former President Donald Trump will appear on stage Wednesday in a livestreamed town hall from Iowa, where he will answer questions about the key issues facing voters in the Hawkeye State and across the country.
The Fox News town hall is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET and will feature “Special Report” chief political anchor Bret Baier and “The Story” ahead of the important Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses. co-hosted by Martha McCallum, editor-in-chief and anchor.
Trump has a wide lead in the Republican primary, with the latest Iowa polls showing his approval rating at more than 50%.
His ranking is several miles below Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who are a distant second place contender.
Fox News hosts Trump town hall with Bret Bayer and Martha McCollum ahead of Iowa caucuses
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event in Waterloo, Iowa, on December 19, 2023. (Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Mr. Trump's town hall on Wednesday night comes just days after he gave a big campaign speech in Iowa and comes amid a proxy campaign by his campaign.
Trump campaign officials told Fox News Digital that they are booking top surrogates to conduct unique events and stops across Iowa ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Campaign officials told Fox News Digital that surrogate candidates will “cover” the airwaves and Iowa in advance of the caucuses.
“The Story” editor and anchor Martha McCallum and “Special Report” chief political anchor Bret Baier will co-host a Fox News town hall for three consecutive nights starting Monday. (Fox)
The town hall also comes after President Trump spends Tuesday in federal court.
Trump starts 2024 in 'strongest possible position' in Republican presidential primary
The former president appeared Wednesday at a hearing examining the scope of presidential privilege at the Washington, D.C., Court of Appeals. President Trump is seeking to dismiss Special Counsel Jack Smith's case against him. His lawyers argue that presidential immunity protects him from prosecution.
The trial is scheduled for March 4, the day before the March 5 Super Tuesday primary election, and will be held in Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts and Minnesota. The states of North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Vermont will elect Republican candidates on the ballot.
Former President Donald Trump waves to the crowd on the field during halftime of the Palmetto Bowl game between Clemson and South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium on November 25, 2023 in Columbia, South Carolina. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images)
Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty in federal court in August to all four federal charges stemming from Mr. Smith's investigation into 2020 election interference and the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently rejected Smith's appeal to expedite the evaluation of the immunity claim before it can be fully heard by a federal appeals court. Trump's lawyers asked the court to deny Smith's request.
According to the latest Fox News poll, if the general election were held today, Republican front-runner Trump would defeat President Biden in a head-to-head contest. Trump was indicted four times in 2023, but he has pleaded not guilty to all charges in all jurisdictions.
The former president is now forced to grapple with a competing schedule ahead of important early state primary election dates and court dates.
Smith's next scheduled trial stems from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's long-running investigation into hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign. Mr. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
donald trump and jack smith
The trial is scheduled to begin in New York City on March 25, 2024, but Bragg said he remains flexible on that date pending a decision on the timing of the January 6 trial in Smith's case. .
If it begins on March 25, the court proceedings would begin immediately after the Louisiana primary and April 2, when voters in Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin will go to the polls to choose Republican candidates. It will be held before the day.
Mr. Smith also prosecuted Mr. Trump in an investigation into allegations that the former president improperly stored classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Trump has pleaded not guilty to all 37 felonies in the investigation. Charges include knowingly retaining national defense information, conspiracy to obstruct justice, and making false statements.
Court dates and primaries: Trump faces 2024 election calendar
Mr. Trump was subsequently indicted on additional charges of knowingly retaining national defense information and two additional counts of obstruction as part of an indictment superseding Mr. Smith's investigation. Mr. Trump has maintained his innocence.
The case will be filed on May 20, 2024, ahead of the Kentucky primary on May 21, Oregon on May 25, and New Jersey on June 4. It is scheduled to start.
Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
If Trump consolidates his lead in the Republican Party, he will attend the Republican convention in Milwaukee from July 15 to 18.
Fulton County, Georgia, District Attorney Fani Willis proposed starting her trial just weeks later.
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Willis accused Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state. Trump was charged with one count of violating Georgia's RICO law, three counts of criminal abetting, six counts of criminal conspiracy, one count of filing a false document, and two counts of making false statements.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
The Fulton County Prosecutor's Office has recommended that the trial begin on August 5, 2024.
