Social media reacts to first GOP president debate as eight candidates squabble and discuss absent Trump: ‘Like the final episodes of Succession without Logan Roy’

Social media has been awash with memes and reactions to the first Republican presidential debate, which was both a chaotic shouting match over key issues and a source of light entertainment for viewers.

Many compared the debate to the latest episodes of Succession, in which Logan Roy’s heirs fight for his empire — just as the candidates jostle to become the next Republican presidential nominee.

Some even went so far as to compare former President Donald Trump, who was absent from the FOX debate, to fictional magnate Roy and rival Ron DeSantis with his oldest son.

The eight Republican candidates were eager to leave a lasting impression in the minds of voters, but some of their performances went viral for all the wrong reasons.

Viewers raved about a series of bizarre moments, including a tense smile from DeSantis and a straight face from Nikki Haley as Vivek Ramaswamy – who emerged as the favorite – grinned and waved.

Ron DeSantis’ awkward smile at one point in the debate has been mocked by countless people online.

After he stopped speaking at one point, he seems to have arranged his mouth in a half-smile, which many noticed and found unconvincing and even “creepy.”

One X user wrote, “DeSantis looks like an alien learning how to laugh for the first time.”

DeSantis’ criticisms didn’t stop there: A pro-Trump meme page shared a slew of tweets criticizing the Florida governor.

It shared a fragment of a rocket crashing to the ground when unable to launch, reading ‘Ron! 2024′ over the top as a barb aimed at DeSantis’ campaign.

Others used memes to comment on how they felt the candidates performed.

One person stated on X: ‘BREAKING NEWS: Arrest warrant issued for Nikki Haley following the cold blood murder of Vivek Ramaswamy on the debate stage.’

Meanwhile, a meme was revived from the 2020 presidential race involving former Vice President Mike Pence.

Pence, one of the candidates for the Republican nomination, got a fly on his head for more than two minutes during a debate.

The embarrassing moment, seen on millions of TV screens across the US, was one of the most talked-about moments of the debate.

Ashley St Clair was among those who remembered the moment Pence took the stage for the 2024 presidential debate and said, “I can’t look at Mike Pence right now without thinking about the fly.”

Another X user shared an article headlined “Heart Warming: The Worst People You Know Are All Fighting,” with the caption “Debate Day.”