World
Trump criticism takes center stage as GOP presidential hopefuls wrestle with Haley’s rising popularity
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In a heated fourth Republican presidential debate held in Alabama, the smallest field yet, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley faced intense scrutiny from her fellow candidates, namely Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. DeSantis accused Haley of not supporting a ban on gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth, a claim she vehemently denied.Ramaswamy relentlessly targeted her, accusing her of corruption and holding up a sign that read “Nikki = Corrupt.”
Haley, whose popularity has been on the rise, defended herself against the barrage of accusations. She mocked her rivals, stating, “I love all the attention, fellas, thank you for that.” However, DeSantis continued to frame her as part of the establishment wing of the Republican Party, aiming to block her momentum in the race.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, with almost no chance of winning the nomination, criticized his fellow candidates for being too timid to take on the absent front-runner, former President Donald Trump. Christie compared Trump to the Harry Potter character Voldemort, suggesting that his rivals were afraid to speak his name and make a robust case against his re-election.
The debate took a contentious turn when Christie and Ramaswamy engaged in a fiery exchange. Christie labeled Ramaswamy “the most obnoxious blowhard in America,” and Ramaswamy responded with a weight-related dig, telling Christie to “walk yourself off that stage, enjoy a nice meal and get the hell out of this race.”
Throughout the debate, DeSantis kept a cautious approach toward criticizing Trump directly, focusing more on attacking Haley. In a notable moment, Haley criticized Trump for not doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl from China into the U.S., and DeSantis used the opportunity to attack her, accusing her of encouraging Chinese investment during her tenure as governor of South Carolina.
The moderators, led by Megyn Kelly, played hardball and confronted the candidates with questions about Trump, revealing divisions within the Republican Party regarding the former president. Ramaswamy added controversial elements to the debate, suggesting that the Jan. 6 Capitol attack was an “inside job” and endorsing conspiracy theories like the “great replacement theory.”
As the Iowa caucuses rapidly approach, the Republican candidates are grappling with a Bizarro primary where Trump remains dominant, and the debate dynamics may influence their standing in the race. The candidates are keenly aware of the need for a breakout moment to challenge Trump’s lead, but the infighting among them raises questions about their ability to unite against the absent front-runner.
(with inputs from agencies)
Haley, whose popularity has been on the rise, defended herself against the barrage of accusations. She mocked her rivals, stating, “I love all the attention, fellas, thank you for that.” However, DeSantis continued to frame her as part of the establishment wing of the Republican Party, aiming to block her momentum in the race.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, with almost no chance of winning the nomination, criticized his fellow candidates for being too timid to take on the absent front-runner, former President Donald Trump. Christie compared Trump to the Harry Potter character Voldemort, suggesting that his rivals were afraid to speak his name and make a robust case against his re-election.
The debate took a contentious turn when Christie and Ramaswamy engaged in a fiery exchange. Christie labeled Ramaswamy “the most obnoxious blowhard in America,” and Ramaswamy responded with a weight-related dig, telling Christie to “walk yourself off that stage, enjoy a nice meal and get the hell out of this race.”
Throughout the debate, DeSantis kept a cautious approach toward criticizing Trump directly, focusing more on attacking Haley. In a notable moment, Haley criticized Trump for not doing enough to stop the flow of fentanyl from China into the U.S., and DeSantis used the opportunity to attack her, accusing her of encouraging Chinese investment during her tenure as governor of South Carolina.
The moderators, led by Megyn Kelly, played hardball and confronted the candidates with questions about Trump, revealing divisions within the Republican Party regarding the former president. Ramaswamy added controversial elements to the debate, suggesting that the Jan. 6 Capitol attack was an “inside job” and endorsing conspiracy theories like the “great replacement theory.”
As the Iowa caucuses rapidly approach, the Republican candidates are grappling with a Bizarro primary where Trump remains dominant, and the debate dynamics may influence their standing in the race. The candidates are keenly aware of the need for a breakout moment to challenge Trump’s lead, but the infighting among them raises questions about their ability to unite against the absent front-runner.
(with inputs from agencies)
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