Candidates in the 2024 US presidential election clashed in the fourth Republican debate, featuring chaos and personal attacks as they aimed to position themselves as viable options to former President Donald Trump. Despite Trump, the clear frontrunner, skipping the debate, criticism focused on his candidacy, political history, and legal issues.
The NewsNation channel hosted the event in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, six weeks before the first primary contest, the Iowa caucuses. Despite Trump’s significant lead in the state, four candidates—Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former UN envoy Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie—sought to diminish his advantage on the debate stage. The discussion revolved around familiar themes such as the war in Gaza, immigration, China, and healthcare for transgender youth.
Here are five main points from the fourth Republican debate:
1. Haley Faces Aggressive Attacks, Defended by Christie
The former UN envoy experienced a boost in her campaign when she gained the endorsement of the Koch network, a powerful right-wing group with significant resources. Recent polls indicate that DeSantis and Haley are now tied for second place in the Republican race. It wasn’t unexpected, then, that DeSantis, often regarded as Trump’s top contender, aggressively confronted Haley during the debate.
In the early stages of the debate, DeSantis challenged Haley’s conservative credentials and criticized her stance on parents accessing transgender healthcare for their children. The two candidates then exchanged accusations of being lenient on China. Ramaswamy continued in a similar vein, consistently attacking Haley throughout the debate, portraying her as a corrupt neoconservative influenced by affluent donors.
At a certain point, Christie defended Haley, labeling Ramaswamy as “the most obnoxious blowhard in America.” However, the Ohio-born businessman persisted, intensifying his attacks by repeatedly questioning Haley’s support for aid to Ukraine. He expressed his criticism by saying, “You can put lipstick on a Dick Cheney, it is still a fascist neo-con,” referring to the former Republican vice president known for his role in the post-9/11 wars.
Ramaswamy continued his attacks, going on to display a notepad that read “Nikki = corrupt.” Haley promptly brushed off the insult, stating, “It’s not worth my time to respond to him,” and the debate proceeded.
2. Trump Critique Continues: Divisions Among Republicans on Past Promises and Chaos
Christie continued as the primary Trump critic in the debate, and while others didn’t match his fervor, some took their own subtle jabs at the former president. Haley, in particular, criticized government spending during the Trump administration, especially the approval of a large COVID-19 economic relief package in 2020. She characterized Trump as an agent of chaos, emphasizing the need to halt the disorder. Haley stated, “We have to stop the chaos, but you can’t defeat Democrat chaos with Republican chaos. And that’s what Donald Trump gives us. My approach is different: no drama, no vendettas, no whining.”
DeSantis, known for his strong defense of Trump, raised questions about the former president’s electability, hinting that at age 77, Trump might be too old for the White House. DeSantis also contended that Trump fell short of fulfilling his promises from the 2016 election. DeSantis stated, “He didn’t clean up the swamp. He said he was going to drain it. He did not drain it. He said he was going to build a wall and have Mexico pay for it. We don’t have the wall.” Despite these critiques, Trump maintains a significant lead in the race, with some polls showing a lead of up to 40 percentage points.
3. Views on Gaza, Biden’s Support, and TikTok Controversy
The presidential hopefuls voiced staunch support for Israel in its war in Gaza, where the conflict has resulted in the deaths of over 16,000 Palestinians. If presented with a sound plan by military aides, Christie said he would not hesitate to send US soldiers to rescue American captives in Gaza, whom Hamas abducted during the October 7 attack.
Christie stated, “If they had bandwidth [and] showed me that we could get them out safely, you’re damn right, I’d send the American army in there to get our people home and get them home now.”
DeSantis accused the US administration of hindering Israel’s war efforts, despite President Joe Biden’s support for Israel. DeSantis claimed, “Joe Biden will say they support Israel, and then they do nothing but try to kneecap them every step of the way.” However, it’s unclear what he was referring to. The White House has stated that it is not setting red lines to limit Israel’s military actions, and Biden is seeking a $14 billion aid package for the US ally.
Haley called for banning TikTok, citing content critical of Israel. She said, “For every 30 minutes that someone watches TikTok every day, they become 17 percent more anti-Semitic, more pro-Hamas.”
Christie stated, “If they had bandwidth [and] showed me that we could get them out safely, you’re damn right, I’d send the American army in there to get our people home and get them home now.”
DeSantis accused the US administration of hindering Israel’s war efforts, despite President Joe Biden’s support for Israel. DeSantis claimed, “Joe Biden will say they support Israel, and then they do nothing but try to kneecap them every step of the way.” However, it’s unclear what he was referring to. The White House has stated that it is not setting red lines to limit Israel’s military actions, and Biden is seeking a $14 billion aid package for the US ally.
Haley called for banning TikTok, citing content critical of Israel. She said, “For every 30 minutes that someone watches TikTok every day, they become 17 percent more anti-Semitic, more pro-Hamas.”
4. Border Control Perspectives: DeSantis’ Militarized Approach, Haley’s Deportation Focus, and Ramaswamy’s Controversial Immigration Claims
The candidates largely agreed on the necessity of curbing unauthorized arrivals at the southern US border. DeSantis proposed treating drug cartels at the border as “foreign terrorist organizations” and dealing with them militarily. He emphasized the need to build a wall across the southern border and suggested funding it by taxing remittances from foreign workers in the US to their home countries.
Haley expressed her commitment to increasing the deportation of migrants who entered the country without authorization during the Biden presidency. She highlighted her parents’ legal immigration process, stating, “They are offended by those that are coming illegally. We can’t let them skip the line.”
Ramaswamy, on the other hand, promoted the racist conspiracy theory that Democrats are seeking to replace white voters by allowing more immigrants into the country. Ramaswamy said, “The great replacement theory is not some grand right-wing conspiracy theory but a basic statement of the Democratic Party’s platform.”
5. Stance on China: Accusations, Accountability, and the Battle for Dominance
The candidates advocated for stringent policies against China and accused one another of being weak on Beijing. Ramaswamy attributed the fentanyl crisis in the US and the COVID-19 pandemic to China. He emphasized the need to hold China accountable using all available financial leverage, stating, “If we’re willing to stand with a spine, China will have to fold because they’re in a tougher spot than we are.”
DeSantis, too, highlighted the competition with Beijing, stating, “Deterring China’s ambitions is the number one national security task that I will do as president, and we will succeed. The 21st century needs to be an American century. We cannot let it be a Chinese century.”
Summary
The fourth Republican debate for the 2024 US presidential election showcased intense clashes among candidates, marked by chaos and personal attacks. Despite Donald Trump’s absence, the frontrunner faced criticism, especially on his political history and legal issues. The debate covered various issues, from the war in Gaza to immigration, China, and healthcare for transgender youth. Notable moments included Nikki Haley facing aggressive attacks, a continuation of critiques against Trump, discussions on the Israel-Gaza conflict, perspectives on border control, and a focus on policies against China. The diverse and heated contest sets the stage for a challenging presidential nomination race.