Eight Republican presidential candidates met on the GOP debate stage for the first time Wednesday night. Here are some key moments from the debate.
“Now is not the time for on the job training,” former Vice President Mike Pence said. “We don’t need to bring in a rookie.” Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie cut in during one of Ramaswamy’s most biting attacks.
“I’ve had enough of a guy who stands up here who sounds like ChatGPT,” Christie said, adding that Ramaswamy’s opening line about being a skinny guy with a hard-to-pronounce name reminded him of former President Barack Obama, not a compliment on a Republican stage. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley attacked Ramaswamy's argument that the U.S. shouldn't support Ukraine in its defense against Russia's invasion. “Under your watch, you would make America less safe. You have no foreign policy experience and it shows,” Haley told him, standing directly to his left.And when they did, most of the participants raised their hands to say they’d support Trump even if he was convicted in a court of law. That’s even after the moderators noted that Trump is facing more than 90 criminal counts in separate cases across four states.“Let’s just speak the truth. President Trump, I believe, was the best president of the 21st century. It’s a fact,” Ramaswamy said. Christie, a former U.S. attorney, pushed back aggressively despite being drowned out at times by the audience's boos. Even if people disagree with the criminal charges, Christie said, “The conduct is beneath the office of the president of the United States.” Pence also refused to say he would pardon Trump if he’s ultimately convicted. He said he’d give the possibility “fair consideration.” DeSantis was far more cautious. He did not address Trump’s indictments or his behavior when given the chance, instead calling for the end of the “weaponization” of the Department of Justice.“Republicans, we need to look forward,” DeSantis said. The Republicans on stage did not downplay their strong opposition to abortion rights when given the opportunity. But there was a clear divide among the candidates over whether to push for a federal abortion ban. Haley, the only woman on stage, called on her opponents to be honest with voters that a federal law that imposes an abortion ban on all states would likely never get through the narrowly divided Congress. She said the issue should be sent back to the states. She also made a personal appeal. “We need to stop demonizing this issue,” Haley said. “We aren’t going to put a woman in jail ... if she has an abortion.” On the other side: Pence, an evangelical Christian who has long fought against abortion rights. Both Pence and Scott openly endorsed a national ban on abortions at 15 weeks at least. Pence said that Haley’s call to find consensus on the issue in the states “is the opposite of leadership.”As for DeSantis, who signed a 6-week abortion into Florida law just this spring, he didn’t take a position on a federal ban when asked directly. He said he was “proud” to sign his state’s abortion ban, which is one of the strictest in the nation. Democrats were likely happy with the discussion. They already plan to make abortion a central issue in next fall’s general election. While the frontrunners show off their second quarter hauls, lesser known candidates are getting creative in order to meet fundraising requirements for the first Republican debate next month. NBCs Alice Barr reports.
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