The Republican debate recap for the 2024 presidential race
4 Min Read
The GOP debate has set the stage for the next round due to take place on September 27, but will Trump attend in person this time or will it be another call-out?
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The eight Republican presidential candidates at the first debate on August 23, 2023 in Milwaukee (AP)
On Wednesday, the eight Republican candidates took to the stage in Milwaukee for the GOP debate - Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.
Former US President Donald Trump did not attend and instead opted for a pre-recorded interview with former Fox News host and conservative broadcaster Tucker Carlson.
38-year-old and youngest runner in the group, Ramaswamy, was faced with fire within the first hour of the debate. "We don’t need to bring in a rookie, we don’t need to bring in people without experience," Pence said to him.
"I’ve had enough, already tonight, of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT standing up here," Christie told him.
Chris Christie slams Vivek Ramaswamy at the GOP presidential debate: “I've have had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT.”
— The Recount (@therecount) August 24, 2023
Christie also calls Ramaswamy "the same type of amateur" as Barack Obama. pic.twitter.com/OlgD9Yqvvz
Just during the first half-hour and upon hearing the back-and-forths, Haley jumped to quote Margaret Thatcher and said: "This is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said, 'If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.'"
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Climate change is a 'hoax'
Hot topics of debate ranged from abortion and Ukraine to social security, climate change, and 'Bidenomics'.
Speaking on abortion, upon being asked whether he would sign a similar bill to the 6-week abortion ban bill in Florida that is due to take effect, DeSantis responded that he would "stand on the side of life".
Haley spoke on a more neutral stance, asking: "Can’t we all agree that we should ban late-term abortions? Can’t we all agree that we should encourage adoptions?... Can’t we agree that contraception should be available? Can’t we all agree that we are not going to put a woman in jail or give her the death penalty if she gets an abortion?"
When answering a question by a voter on making America believe that Republicans fight for climate change, Fox moderator Martha MacCallum asked: "Do you believe in human behavior causing climate change? Raise your hand if you do."
DeSantis was quick to respond and criticize Anthony Fauci and President Joe Biden, while Haley took a jab at China and India.
"First of all, we do care about clean air, clean water. We want to see that taken care of, but there is a right way to do it. The right way is first of all, yes, is climate change real? Yes, it is. But if you want to go and really change the environment, we need to start telling China and India that they have to lower their emissions."
The real surprise? Ramaswamy called climate change a 'hoax': "I’m the only candidate on stage who isn’t bought and paid for, so I can say this," adding: "Climate change is a hoax…The reality is more people are dying of bad climate change policies than they are of actual climate change." He was faced with quite some frustration in the hall.
Mexico over Ukraine
Regarding the topic of Ukraine, only DeSantis and Ramaswamy rejected the idea of providing more funding to Ukraine.
DeSantis told Europe to "step up and do their job", while Ramaswamy agreed and added that the funds should be sent to the US-Mexico border instead.
Haley accused Ramaswamy of having the tendency to "hand Ukraine to Russia" and "let China eat Taiwan", adding "You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows".
Read next: Rep. candidate ready to mediate Ukraine conflict; but on what terms?
When questioned about support for Trump, everyone raised their hand to show support, except former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson. On the matter of Biden's son, Hunter, Chris Christie said: "In a Christie administration, he would go to jail for 10 years."
Finally on the issue of the president coined as 'Bidenomics', not one candidate was supportive and instead bashed the president and his administration's performance throughout his term.
"Our country is in decline. This decline is not inevitable, it’s a choice," DeSantis said, adding: "We need to send Joe Biden back to his basement and reverse this decline."
