The Republican debate Wednesday night in Miami did not change the trajectory of the party’s 2024 presidential nomination race. Former President Donald Trump, who hosted a rally nearby rather than participate, remains the prohibitive frontrunner.
But the debate still revealed deep divisions within a Republican Party dominated by Mr. Trump but with strong influences of old-fashioned Republicanism.
Why we wrote this
Donald Trump remains the party’s likely nominee, but last night’s Republican debate exposed mounting crosscurrents — on foreign policy, abortion bans and social security.
On foreign policy, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley advocated a strong US role – in Ukraine, the Middle East and possibly China. Tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy offered a Trumpian “America First” vision that could mean a sharp drop in aid.
On Social Security, Ms. Haley and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said they would raise the retirement age. Mr. Trump has taken a very different position, saying that “Republicans should not cut entitlements under any circumstances.”
On abortion, while neither Republican party presented itself as supporting abortion rights, they differed in tone. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis claimed support for “a culture of life.” Ms. Haley made a note of realism, noting that a nationwide ban cannot realistically pass the Senate.
The Republican debate Wednesday night in Miami did not change the trajectory of the party’s 2024 presidential nomination race. Former President Donald Trump, who hosted a nearby rally rather than spar with primary challengers, remains the prohibitive frontrunner.
But the debate was still revealing, exposing deep divisions and insecurities in a Republican Party today dominated by Mr. Trump, but still with strong influences of old-fashioned Republicanism. These talking points will likely continue into the post-Trump era.
Isolationism versus internationalism
Why we wrote this
Donald Trump remains the party’s likely nominee, but last night’s Republican debate exposed mounting crosscurrents — on foreign policy, abortion bans and social security.
“The world is on fire,” said former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, calling for a strong U.S. stance around the world — in Ukraine, the Middle East and possibly China. Ms. Haley’s position, echoed by former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, stood in stark contrast to that of tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who largely presented a Trumpian “America First” view on Ukraine, which marked a sharp retreat from the help could mean.
Social Security
“Under no circumstances should Republicans cut entitlements,” Mr. Trump has said. But some Republicans appear willing to lean into what has been called the “third rail” of politics in the face of a projected deficit starting in 2032. Ms. Haley and Mr. Christie said they would raise the retirement age, while Florida Gov. Ron. DeSantis and Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina said they would not. Ms. Haley emphasized her aggressive fiscal policies and accused Trump of adding $8 trillion to the national debt.
Abortion
Republicans were plagued by election losses Tuesday and a ballot measure that focused on reproductive rights. This issue, which Mr. Trump generally avoids, could be the Republican Party’s Achilles heel in 2024. While neither Republican party presented itself as supporting abortion rights, they differed in approach and tone.
Governor DeSantis, who is a distant second to Trump for the nomination, reaffirmed his support for “a culture of life” and accused abortion opponents of being “flat-footed” during an Ohio referendum. Ms. Haley, who is gaining traction and tying Mr. DeSantis for second place in an important poll, emphasized her desire for consensus. She called herself “unapologetically pro-life” but struck a tone of realism by noting that a nationwide ban on abortion at 15 weeks’ gestation cannot realistically pass the Senate unless Republicans somehow way to achieve a filibuster-proof majority.
So was Wednesday night’s debate pointless, given Trump’s dominance in the Republican Party primaries? Not necessary. It’s not impossible that something could change the dynamics of the race. And many of these candidates — especially Ms. Haley and Mr. Desantis — could try again in 2028.