Major Highlights from the Second Republican US Presidential Debate: US Presidential Election 2024

Seven candidates are competing for the Republican nomination in the 2024 presidential election. They gathered for their second debate in California, discussing key issues like immigration and the economy. Notably, former President Donald Trump, a leading candidate, skipped the event for the second time.

Candidates in the Spotlight

The seven candidates in the debate were Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.

Trump's Absence

Donald Trump, the 77-year-old frontrunner, chose not to attend the debate. Instead, he went to Michigan to support striking autoworkers. Trump dismissed his rivals, referring to them as mere job candidates and questioning their potential as vice presidents.

Key Takeaways

1. Attacking Trump

   - DeSantis criticized Trump for being "missing in action" and blamed him for increasing the national debt.

   - Christie, a vocal Trump critic, accused the former president of avoiding issues and playfully referred to him as "Donald Duck."

2. Immigration Talk

   - The debate delved into immigration issues, with candidates expressing strong views.

   - Christie distanced himself from Reagan's call for amnesty, emphasizing securing the US-Mexico border.

   - Haley called for a halt to foreign aid to Latin America until the border is secure.

   - Ramaswamy proposed revoking US citizenship for children born to parents in the US illegally.

3. Ramaswamy on Defense

   - Ramaswamy, initially a Trump-like outsider, took a more conciliatory tone in this debate.

   - Despite defending his use of TikTok, he faced criticism from other candidates, particularly Haley.

4. Cringeworthy Moments

   - Pence attempted a zinging one-liner about Joe Biden during a discussion about the United Auto Workers strike, but it fell flat.

   - Christie awkwardly connected teachers' unions to Biden's White House, making the audience uncomfortable.

   - Pence, when asked about education, mentioned sleeping with a teacher for 38 years, referring to his wife.

Conclusion

The debate provided a platform for candidates to challenge Trump, discuss critical issues, and showcase their policy stances. It revealed divisions within the party on topics like immigration and highlighted moments of humor and awkwardness among the candidates. The absence of Trump allowed other contenders to make their case to voters ahead of the 2024 primaries.