The 2024 presidential race gets into full swing Wednesday with the first Republican primary debate of the election cycle.
Eight candidates will participate in the debate at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum: Businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence , former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum.
However, Trump has declined to participate in Wednesday’s debate.
The debate will begin at 9 p.m. ET and be moderated by Fox News anchors Martha MacCallum and Bret Baier.
Read live updates on the GOP debate below:
Charles Rex Arbogast/Associated Press
Vice President Kamala Harris: No One Won Tonights Debate
Vice President Kamala Harris roasted the candidates on tonights debate stage, saying the American people had heard how much they stand to lose from an extremist agenda.
One by one, each extremist Republican candidate laid out a vision for an America that is less fair, less free and less safe, she said. These extremists focus on unnecessary debates meant to divide our nation in hopes that the American public will not notice they have no affirmative agenda.
One by one, each extremist Republican candidate laid out a vision for an America that is less fair, less free and less safe, she said. These extremists focus on unnecessary debates meant to divide our nation in hopes that the American public will not notice they have no affirmative agenda.
Donald Trump Has Some Thoughts About The Debate
Trump has started blasting some of his opponents on his Truth Social platform after tonights debate. He called Christie horrible, saying the former governor was booed at a level never seen before" at such an event.
The former president went on to reject claims that he asked Pence, his former vice president, to step in to help him remain in power after he lost the 2020 election.
I never asked Mike Pence to put me above the Constitution, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Who would say such a thing? A FAKE STORY!
The former president went on to reject claims that he asked Pence, his former vice president, to step in to help him remain in power after he lost the 2020 election.
I never asked Mike Pence to put me above the Constitution, Trump wrote on Truth Social. Who would say such a thing? A FAKE STORY!
We Made It To Closing Arguments
Burgum painted himself as a working-class man at heart who will get this economy sprinting.
Hutchinson said the solution is not four more years of Donald Trump but rather a leader who brings out the best in Americans, like former President Ronald Reagan did.
Scott said he is proof the American dream is alive. He finished by slipping in a dig on transgender people: If God made you a man, you play sports against men.
Christie said he is the only one on stage to beat a Democratic incumbent in a reelection bid, stating, Im the one who can win this race if given a chance.
Haley recalled what it was like seeing a loved one deployed before vowing to bring down inflation and better support law enforcement.
Pence said Biden has weakened America at home and abroad, bringing up the Afghanistan withdrawal. He added: But different times call for different leadership, and the Republican Party owes the people a choice.
Ramaswamy said Americans have forgotten how they are alike, bound by a common set of ideals. Those apparently include: God is real, there are two genders, fossil fuels are a requirement for human prosperity and reverse racism is racism.
DeSantis said he is a blue-collar kid who understands the importance of the American dream and the military, where he served as a lawyer. 2024 is make or break. Were not getting a mulligan not excuses.
Hutchinson said the solution is not four more years of Donald Trump but rather a leader who brings out the best in Americans, like former President Ronald Reagan did.
Scott said he is proof the American dream is alive. He finished by slipping in a dig on transgender people: If God made you a man, you play sports against men.
Christie said he is the only one on stage to beat a Democratic incumbent in a reelection bid, stating, Im the one who can win this race if given a chance.
Haley recalled what it was like seeing a loved one deployed before vowing to bring down inflation and better support law enforcement.
Pence said Biden has weakened America at home and abroad, bringing up the Afghanistan withdrawal. He added: But different times call for different leadership, and the Republican Party owes the people a choice.
Ramaswamy said Americans have forgotten how they are alike, bound by a common set of ideals. Those apparently include: God is real, there are two genders, fossil fuels are a requirement for human prosperity and reverse racism is racism.
DeSantis said he is a blue-collar kid who understands the importance of the American dream and the military, where he served as a lawyer. 2024 is make or break. Were not getting a mulligan not excuses.
GOP Debate Shock: The Word 'Woke' Was Used Only Once
After one hour and 41 minutes, Haley broke a shocking drought at the first Republican presidential debate when she dropped the first use of the word woke.
Theres a lot of crazy woke things happening in schools, Haley said.
DeSantis, who declared a war on woke and managed to use the word seven times in 26 seconds in one speech , did not use the word "woke" at all.
The near-total absence of a word that has been a mainstay on the campaign trail for many of the candidates comes as Republican voters become less interested in the anti-woke message.
Theres a lot of crazy woke things happening in schools, Haley said.
DeSantis, who declared a war on woke and managed to use the word seven times in 26 seconds in one speech , did not use the word "woke" at all.
The near-total absence of a word that has been a mainstay on the campaign trail for many of the candidates comes as Republican voters become less interested in the anti-woke message.
Candidates Asked About Age Requirements
A question about whether presidents have to pass a mental and physical test to run for the Oval Office quickly went off the rails.
Both Pence and Ramaswamy said they opposed such a test. Pence answered first with a joke, saying that everybody in D.C. should have to pass such a test before clarifying his position. He then appeared to take a swipe at Ramaswamy as too young and inexperienced.
Both Pence and Ramaswamy said they opposed such a test. Pence answered first with a joke, saying that everybody in D.C. should have to pass such a test before clarifying his position. He then appeared to take a swipe at Ramaswamy as too young and inexperienced.
Ron DeSantis Says He's Pushed Back Against School 'Indoctrination'
DeSantis started off the education portion of the debate, touting his record in Florida to limit discussion of race and gender identity in classrooms. His aggressive effort to limit the rights of LGBTQ+ people in the state has been lambasted by civil rights groups, as well as other Republicans .
We have to make sure that what our schools are doing is focusing on solid academics, Christie said. We cannot be graduating students who have no foundation in what it means to be an American.
We have to make sure that what our schools are doing is focusing on solid academics, Christie said. We cannot be graduating students who have no foundation in what it means to be an American.
Christie In Favor Of Deporting Millions Of Unauthorized Immigrants Living In U.S.
On immigration law, Christie put forward a position as far right as anything Trump pursued as president: deporting all unauthorized immigrants in the country.
Making no distinction between the millions of unauthorized migrants living in the country, Christie said, We have to have them detained, we have to make sure they are not rewarded for breaking the law. (Many migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization are pursuing their legal right to apply for asylum.)
After a tangent about China, McCallum pressed for clarity: Would you send those people back?
Of course, youd have to, Christie responded.
Making no distinction between the millions of unauthorized migrants living in the country, Christie said, We have to have them detained, we have to make sure they are not rewarded for breaking the law. (Many migrants who cross the U.S.-Mexico border without authorization are pursuing their legal right to apply for asylum.)
After a tangent about China, McCallum pressed for clarity: Would you send those people back?
Of course, youd have to, Christie responded.
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Fact Check: Migrants Aren't To Blame For The Fentanyl Crisis
Several of the candidates said they support lethal force on migrants crossing the southern border and blamed them for the countrys opioid crisis. DeSantis went as far as to say that as president, hed send troops across the border on day one to target fentanyl labs.
We have to reestablish the rule of law, and we have to defend our people, he said.
In reality, recent data shows that nearly 90% of convicted fentanyl traffickers were U.S. citizens, and just 0.02% of migrants arrested for illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border had any fentanyl on them.
We have to reestablish the rule of law, and we have to defend our people, he said.
In reality, recent data shows that nearly 90% of convicted fentanyl traffickers were U.S. citizens, and just 0.02% of migrants arrested for illegally crossing the U.S.-Mexico border had any fentanyl on them.
Donald Trump Interview With Tucker Carlson Disappoints
Donald Trump's much-hyped interview with ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which was posted online just as the 2024 GOP presidential debate was set to begin in Milwaukee, offered little in the way of actual news.
The 45-minute sit-down was supposed to draw attention away from Trump's rivals even though he wouldn't be joining them onstage on Wednesday night. But really it was more of the same from Trump. It also didn't air on television, but rather Carlson's account on X, the social media website formerly known as Twitter.
Trump attacked President Joe Biden, including at one point saying Biden "looks like he's walking on toothpicks." He also called his four indictments "bullshit" and criticized the rivals who are his biggest critics, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
"He's weak and pathetic...He's nasty, always has been," Trump said of Hutchinson.
Christie, Trump added, is a "savage maniac" and a "lunatic."
The 45-minute sit-down was supposed to draw attention away from Trump's rivals even though he wouldn't be joining them onstage on Wednesday night. But really it was more of the same from Trump. It also didn't air on television, but rather Carlson's account on X, the social media website formerly known as Twitter.
Trump attacked President Joe Biden, including at one point saying Biden "looks like he's walking on toothpicks." He also called his four indictments "bullshit" and criticized the rivals who are his biggest critics, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson.
"He's weak and pathetic...He's nasty, always has been," Trump said of Hutchinson.
Christie, Trump added, is a "savage maniac" and a "lunatic."
Vivek Ramaswamy Says Ukraine Funds Should Go Toward Southern U.S. Border
Ramaswamy voiced strong opposition to the U.S. continuing to send funding and military assets to help Ukraine fight off Russia, going so far as to say such assets should be turned on the southern U.S. border to prevent migrants from entering the country.
Pence retorted that giving away Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin meant its not going to be too long before he rolls across a NATO border.
He is a dictator and a murderer, Pence said.
Ramaswamy replied that "the real threat we face today is communist China."
Pence retorted that giving away Ukraine to Russian President Vladimir Putin meant its not going to be too long before he rolls across a NATO border.
He is a dictator and a murderer, Pence said.
Ramaswamy replied that "the real threat we face today is communist China."
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Chris Christie Stands Up For Mike Pence
Christie spoke out in support of Pence for his refusal to stand with Trump on his election fraud claims.
Mike Pence stood for the Constitution, and he deserves not grudging credit; he deserves our thanks as Americans for putting his oath of office and the Constitution of the United States before personal, political and unfair pressure, Christie said.
We have to dispense with the person who said that we need to suspend the Constitution to put forward his political career, he continued. Mike Pence said no, and he deserves credit for it."
Mike Pence stood for the Constitution, and he deserves not grudging credit; he deserves our thanks as Americans for putting his oath of office and the Constitution of the United States before personal, political and unfair pressure, Christie said.
We have to dispense with the person who said that we need to suspend the Constitution to put forward his political career, he continued. Mike Pence said no, and he deserves credit for it."
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