Fewer candidates on the stage did not mean the fourth GOP presidential debate on Wednesday was less engaging.
Tense exchanges and heated responses unfolded throughout the night on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa as the Republican hopefuls made their case to American voters.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley were the only 2024 GOP candidates to make it to the debate stage and they filled the night with headline-making moments, though many viewers still believe that frontrunner, former President Donald Trump, is still the winner without even showing up.
Ramaswamy was lauded for many relevant points and responses but was also met with boos when he held up a paper saying “Nikki = Corrupt”, in his attack on Haley.
“Nikki Haley’s campaign launch video sounded like a woke Dylan Mulvaney Bud Light ad talking about how she would kick in heels,” he said at one point.
Volume up:🔉
Vivek absolutely destroyed Nikki Haley in this debate💀😂#GOPDebate #VivekRamaswamy #debate #RonDeSantis pic.twitter.com/wn950YeCl6
— Mr. Hanky (@MrHankyPoopoo) December 7, 2023
“Nikki. I don’t have a woman problem. You have a corruption problem. And I think that that’s what people need to know.,” he said before holding up the note. “Nikki is corrupt. This is a woman who will send your kids to die so she can buy a bigger house.”
Ramaswamy also took a few digs a Christie who had come to Haley’s defense.
“Let me tell you something, This is the fourth debate, the fourth debate that you would be voted in the first 20 minutes as the most obnoxious blowhard in America! So shut up for a little while!” Christie todl his rival.“I’ll tell you what, I’ve known her for 12 years, which is longer than he’s even started to vote in a Republican primary. And while we disagree about some issues and we disagree about who should be president of the United States. What we don’t disagree on is, this is a smart accomplished woman. You should stop insulting her!”
Chris Christie blasts Vivek Ramaswamy: “Let me tell you something, this is the fourth debate that you would be voted in the first 20 minutes as the most obnoxious blowhard in America. So shut up for a little while.” pic.twitter.com/UibID3Iqrg
— Republican Accountability (@AccountableGOP) December 7, 2023
“Chris, your version of foreign policy experience was closing a bridge from New Jersey to New York. So do everybody a favor. Just walk yourself off that stage, enjoy a nice meal, and get the hell out of this race,” Ramaswamy responded, again getting boos in the audience.
Vivek to Chris Christie: “Do everybody a favor and walk yourself off that stage, enjoy a nice meal, and get the hell out of this race.” pic.twitter.com/jPG0JtUx8p
— ForAmerica (@ForAmerica) December 7, 2023
Holy crap…
Chris Christie is now throwing a FIT to Megyn Kelly after Vivek told him to go enjoy a nice meal 🤣🤣🤣#GOPDebate
— Graham Allen (@GrahamAllen_1) December 7, 2023
But Christie got his share of audience backlash when he declared that Trump won’t be able to vote on Election Day because “he will be convicted of felonies before then.”
NEW: Chris Christie Gets Booed, Says Donald Trump Will Be Convicted of Felony Crimes
“You’ll all be heading to the polls to vote. And that’s something that Donald Trump will not be able to do because he will be convicted of felonies before then, and his right to vote will be… pic.twitter.com/0dQ14soXle
— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) December 7, 2023
Megyn Kelly phrased her question perfectly, basically telling Chris Christie that no one likes him and he has zero chance of being the nominee.#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/Y6JHYjl2g3
— Eddie (@ICU1010) December 7, 2023
Newsbusters managing editor Curtis Houck praised DeSantis for an exchange with Haley over the ongoing threat from China.
.@RonDeSantis wasn’t rattled and clearly won this exchange. To argue he’s not tough on China when he’s been saying for years the Chinese Communist Party is America’s biggest threat is ludicrous.
Also, anytime you brag about having Wall Street donors is MAJOR cringe #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/KbJSUlLeWO
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) December 7, 2023
But the Florida governor was out of the gate with a blistering question from moderator Megyn Kelly.
Wow! Megyn Kelly puts Ron DeSantis right at the beginning of the debate. DeSantis looks uncomfortable pic.twitter.com/yEpDece4g0
— Terri Green (@TerriGreenUSA) December 7, 2023
Despite taking heat from all sides during the night, Haley still had praise from her supporters.
Chaos is all around us.
It’s on our southern border.
On our college campuses.
In our city streets.All the polls show that I will crush Joe Biden—Donald Trump won’t. The Democrats all know it.
Join us at https://t.co/Ee93V8hkWG. We have a country to save. pic.twitter.com/tbfssOda6w
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) December 7, 2023
In the end, it seemed the clear winner of the fourth GOP debate wasn’t even at the event.
The winner?#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/VielP2Dn1y
— Larry Elder (@larryelder) December 7, 2023
Donald Trump won.
Vivek came in 2nd.
Desantis/Nikki tied for 3rd.
— Alex Bruesewitz 🇺🇸 (@alexbruesewitz) December 7, 2023
Iowa voter on NBC News: “Donald Trump is still the winner….I like the policies…build the border, drill baby drill, America’s voter is really bright under Trump’s leadership.” pic.twitter.com/jeVnm4tg1A
— MAGA War Room (@MAGAIncWarRoom) December 7, 2023
You should take some of your own advice, fat-boy…
President Trump was one of (if not THE) best presidents this country has EVER had, and YOUR (big) bellyaching about his “angry tweets” and name calling doesn’t change that FACT!
Personally, I’d vote for Biden before I’d vote for YOU!