“The public knows who I am and what a successful presidency I’ve had,” Trump wrote on his online platform Truth Social on Sunday. “I will therefore not take part in the debates,” he added in capital letters. The first Republican televised debate is Wednesday.

Despite the four charges against him, Trump is the clear favorite in the Republican presidential race for the 2024 election applicant field has. He was referring to a CBS News survey in which 62 percent of respondents said they wanted to vote for him. Trump’s closest competitor in the CBS poll is Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has 16 percent.

The Republican primary begins Jan. 15 in the state of Iowa. The primary winner will challenge incumbent Joe Biden, who is running for re-election, in November 2024.