Fox News has banned Donald Trump's team from accessing its "spin room," which will host the Republican Party's first presidential primary debate on Wednesday in Milwaukee.
Access to the spin room, which allows surrogates to interact with media outlets, is restricted to the teams of candidates participating in the debate.
Although Trump aides may not officially be allowed into the spin room, there will be no shortage of Trump supporters at the debate. Regardless of what unfolds on Wednesday evening in Milwaukee, the event will inevitably be overlooked in favor of Trump's interview with Tucker Carlson, and other GOP candidates will continue to stand in the former president's shadow.
While Trump will remain the inevitable elephant in the room in Milwaukee despite his lack of attendance, the Republican primaries and upcoming debates must take a stand against the former president's cult of personality. The GOP must regain its identity and separate itself from the growing disease of Trumpism — it must place principles against personal ambition.