It took the Fox News hosts of the first Republican debate an hour to get to the thorny issue of Donald Trump and his growing list of criminal charges.
But when they did, it caused one of the stormiest moments of the entire night.
“If former President Trump were convicted in a court of law, would you still support him as your party’s choice?” asked host Brett Baier. “Please raise your hand if you wish.”
Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is campaigning as a more competent version of Trump, shot his hand in the air.
Next to him, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis slowed down, glancing at his rivals and looking like he was making a political calculation as the crowd began to jeer.
Vivek Ramaswamy was the fastest to raise his hand when candidates were asked if they would support Donald Trump as a 2024 candidate, even if he was convicted
Former President Donald Trump is due to present himself at an Atlanta prison on Thursday
Former Vice President Mike Pence finally raised his hand, while Chris Christie, who campaigns as the former president’s most outspoken critic, made a dismissive gesture.
“To be clear, we need to stop normalizing this behavior,” Christie said when challenged about his gesture.
“Whether or not you believe the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of President of the United States.”
The moderators had to step in and silence the public
Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, refused to raise his hand at all.
But it was DeSantis’ slow response that sparked instant online backlash as Trump supporters ridiculed him.
“Had to get approval from his billionaire donors and the RINO establishment on how to respond,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted.
The eight candidates took the stage in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for the first Republican debate on Tuesday night.
Chris Christie was booed for criticizing Trump. “To be clear, we need to stop normalizing this behavior,” he said onstage with seven other Republican candidates
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was criticized by Trump supporters for being slow to raise his hand
Trump is expected to report to Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, less than 24 hours later to be formally arrested in an racketeering case related to his attempts to overturn the outcome of the 2024 election.
He is already facing three other criminal charges after being charged four times since April.
The indictment lists 81 felonies spanning from New York to Florida.
Trump stayed out of the debate, but to participate the candidates had to sign a pledge that they would support the eventual 2024 nominee.
Ramaswamy denounced Christie for his attacks on the former president.
‘Let’s just speak the truth, okay. President Trump was, in my opinion, the best president of the 21st century,” he said.
The candidates take the stage during the Republican debate: LR), former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum
Ron DeSantis gets his makeup done during a commercial break
“Your claim that Donald Trump is motivated by vengeance and resentment would be much more credible if your campaign were not based on vengeance and resentment against him.”
Candidates were asked if Pence did the right thing on January 6, 2021 by certifying Joe Biden’s victory.
DeSantis, for his part, tried to make the quest about the future rather than the past.
“This election is not about January 6, 2021. It is about January 20, 2025,” he said.
“As Republicans, we have to look ahead.”
Hutchinson was most emphatic.
‘I didn’t raise my hand. Because there is an important issue that we as a party are facing,” he said. “Over a year ago I said that Donald Trump was morally disqualified as president because of what happened on January 6.”
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