It took Fox News hosts of the first Republican debate an hour to get to the hot topic of Donald Trump and his growing list of criminal charges.
But when they did, it sparked one of the most stormy moments of the entire night.
“If former President Trump were convicted in court, would you still support him as your party’s choice?” asked host Brett Baier. “Please raise your hand if you like.”
Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who is campaigning as a more competent version of Trump, shot his hand in the air.
Beside him, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slowed, glancing at his rivals and looking like he was doing a political calculation as the crowd began to cheer.
Vivek Ramaswamy was the quickest to raise his hand when candidates were asked if they would support Donald Trump as the 2024 candidate even if he were convicted
Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to appear in a jail in Atlanta on Thursday
Former Vice President Mike Pence finally raised his hand, while Chris Christie, who has emerged as the former president’s harshest critic on the campaign trail, made a dismissive gesture.
“To be clear, we need to stop normalizing this behavior,” Christie said when confronted about his gesture.
“Whether you believe the criminal charges are right or wrong, conduct is under the Office of the President of the United States.”
The moderators had to intervene and silence the audience
Asa Hutchinson, the former governor of Arkansas, refused to even raise his hand.
But it was DeSantis’ slow response that immediately sparked backlash online when Trump supporters ridiculed him.
“Had to get permission from his billionaire donors and the RINO establishment as to what response to give,” Donald Trump Jr. tweeted.
The eight candidates took the stage Tuesday night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for the first Republican debate.
- America’s “decline,” expressed in the viral song “Rich Men North of Richmond,” stemmed from spending by the Biden and Trump administrations, Republican candidates say
- Rising GOP star Vivek Ramaswamy starts the debate by slamming Mike Pence in angry back-and-forth and calling Ron DeSantis a “super PAC puppet.”
- Vice President Pence says Americans want years in public service – not a “freshman” like Vivek, while Christie keeps calling him a wannabe Obama
- ‘If you want something done, ask a woman’: Nikki Haley channels Margaret Thatcher as the only contestant on stage and cheers for the crowd
- Chris Christie insists Hunter Biden would go to jail for 10 YEARS if he becomes president, and DeSantis questions the thousands he’s made from paintings
- A nationwide abortion ban divides Republican candidates: Pence backs a 15-week federal ban while Nikki Haley says one must be “real” with the American people
- DeSantis says he’s the only one who took action to stop “George Soros-funded” district attorneys and touts Florida’s lowest crime rate in 50 years
- All Republicans except Gov. Hutchinson say they will SUPPORT Trump regardless of whether he is convicted on any of his four indictments
- DeSantis says Trump is NOT the future and Chris Christie criticizes his behavior because he’s under office – and gets booed
- Foreign policy prowess is crucial, says former UN ambassador Haley, who criticized Vivek for his lack of experience, “and it shows.”
- Pence is hailed for suggesting that “everyone in DC” should pass a mental competency test in order to serve
- The GOP candidates were divided on whether or not to provide more aid to Ukraine over domestic issues – including completing the border wall
Chris Christie was booed for criticizing Trump. “Just to be clear, we need to stop normalizing this behavior,” he said onstage with seven other Republican candidates
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has been criticized by Trump supporters for slowly raising his hand
Trump is expected to show up less than 24 hours later at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, Georgia, where he will be formally arrested on a racketeering count related to his efforts to reverse the 2024 election result.
He already faces three more criminal cases after being charged four times since April.
The indictment includes 81 felonies ranging from New York to Florida.
Trump stayed away from the debate, but in order to participate, candidates had to sign a pledge that they would support the eventual 2024 nominee.
Ramaswamy has criticized Christie for his attacks on the former president.
“Let’s just tell the truth, OK.” “I think President Trump was the best president of the 21st century,” he said.
The candidates take the stage of the Republican debate: LR), Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Former US Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, US 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 revenge and resentment would be far more credible if your campaign were not based on revenge and resentment against him.”
Contestants were asked if Pence did the right thing on January 6, 2021 when he confirmed Joe Biden’s win.
For his part, DeSantis tried to direct the search to the future rather than the past.
“This election is not about January 6, 2021. It’s about January 20, 2025,” he said.
“As Republicans, we must look ahead.”
Hutchinson was the most emphatic.
“I didn’t raise my hand. Because there is an important issue that we have to face as a party,” he said. “Over a year ago I said that Donald Trump was morally disqualified from the presidency as a result of the events of January 6.”