The third Republican presidential debate noticed the 5 remaining main GOP contenders, as soon as once more sans Donald Trump, taking the stage in Miami to debate international coverage and the Israel-Gaza battle, how inflation and the rising value of residing is pinching many Americans — and whether or not to ban TikTok.
But let’s be trustworthy: The most viral elements of the night time concerned Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy buying and selling barbs.
The 5 Republicans who certified for spherical three included former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Haley, entrepreneur Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Frontrunner Trump additionally definitely certified, however he skipped the talk as soon as extra, holding a rally close by in Hialeah, Fla., focusing on the Miami suburb’s influential Cuban-American neighborhood.
Related: Haley seems like high challenger to Trump forward of newest GOP debate, with a Social Security plan that’s ‘differentiating’ her
The debate was dominated by Haley and Ramaswamy, who each topped real-time Google search traits, in addition to topping traits on X.com, previously referred to as Twitter. He known as her “Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels” at one level. She known as him “scum” after he invoked her (grownup) daughter’s TikTok behavior. And spherical and spherical it went.
If you missed the talk, these are a few of the highlights that went viral on Wednesday night time, which everybody will most likely nonetheless be speaking about on Thursday.
Vivek Ramaswamy calls the GOP a ‘party of losers’
Moderators Lester Holt and Kristen Welker from NBC News and conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt got here out of the gate asking the 5 candidates why Republican voters ought to select them as the subsequent U.S. president over frontrunner Trump. Ramaswamy’s response was accountable the GOP “establishment” for Democrats’ wins within the elections on Tuesday, in addition to Republican losses in final yr’s midterms and the 2020 elections.
“We’ve become a party of losers at the end of the day,” he mentioned, calling for “accountability” within the get together. “I am upset about what happened last night. I think there’s something deeper going on in the Republican Party here.”
Read extra: ‘We’ve turn out to be a celebration of losers’: Vivek Ramaswamy blasts GOP ‘establishment’ in Miami debate
Haley says we’d like an accountant — not Donald Trump — within the White House
Answering the identical query about why Republicans ought to select her over Trump, Haley — a former member of Trump’s cupboard when he was within the White House — had this to say:
“I think he was the right president at the right time [in 2016]. I don’t think he’s the right president now.” She blamed the previous president for serving to put the nation $8 trillion in debt, noting, “our kids are never gonna forgive us for that.”
“I think we need an accountant in the White House,” she added.
DeSantis calls out Trump for not attending the talk
The Florida governor scored some early buzz by digging at Trump for skipping the primary three presidential major debates, saying Trump “owes it to you to be on this stage and explain why he should get another chance.”
What’s extra, DeSantis took a swing at Trump’s document whereas he was in workplace. “He should explain why he didn’t have Mexico pay for the border wall. He should explain why he racked up so much debt. He should explain why he didn’t drain the swamp,” he mentioned.
In his closing assertion, DeSantis additionally promised to “deliver on all my promises,” not like Trump.
Haley fires again at Ramaswamy’s ‘Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels’ remark
In one notably spirited alternate towards the start of the night time, Ramaswamy known as each DeSantis and Haley “Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels,” whereas accusing them of placing their private pursuits and investments over what’s finest for Americans.
“Do you want a leader from a different generation who’s gonna put this country first?” he requested, referring to himself, “or do you want Dick Cheney in 3-inch heels, in which case we’ve got two of them on stage tonight,” he mentioned, drawing audible groans from the viewers.
Haley scored applause by responding: “I’d first like to say, they’re 5-inch heels, and I don’t wear them unless you can run in them.”
She continued, “The second thing I will say is, I wear heels. They’re not for a fashion statement. They’re for ammunition.”
Read extra: Nikki Haley stomps on Vivek Ramaswamy’s ‘3-inch heels’ remark throughout Republican debate
Everyone on stage wished to ban TikTok
The candidates have been additionally requested whether or not they would assist banning the favored Chinese-owned social-media app TikTok, which counts over 150 million American customers. The candidates heartily agreed.
“TikTok is not only spyware, it is polluting the minds of American young people,” Christie mentioned.
“Yes, I think that China is the top threat we face,” DeSantis mentioned. “They’ve been very effective at infiltrating different parts of our society. It’s not just military — it’s economic and it’s cultural.”
And Tim Scott mentioned that if American management can’t remove TikTok, then the app ought to require parental consent to permit children ages 14 and underneath to make use of it.
As for Haley, she didn’t reply the query, and as a substitute insisted on responding to some earlier statements her rivals had made through the debate. So when it was his flip, Ramaswamy seized on the chance to notice that Haley’s daughter makes use of TikTok, which led to ….
Haley known as Ramaswamy ‘scum’ after he known as out her daughter’s TikTok utilization
What Ramaswamy mentioned was, “In the last debate, [Haley] made fun of me for actually joining TikTok — while her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time,” he mentioned. “So you might want to take care of your family first.”
Haley responded with, “Leave my daughter out of your voice,” as their alternate drew groans and boos from the viewers. “You’re just scum,” she added after shaking her head and rolling her eyes at him.
It needs to be famous that Haley’s daughter is a grown, married lady. Still, many viewers, together with these figuring out as Republican, known as out Ramaswamy for dragging Haley’s household into the talk.
DeSantis known as out the Fed for overstepping
DeSantis promised to “reign in the Federal Reserve” if he turns into president, blaming the Fed, Congress and each main political events for “botching” the financial points and inflicting the excessive inflation that Americans have seen for the reason that COVID-19 pandemic, attributable to their “reckless monetary policy.”
“They botched it. Congress botched it. Both parties are to blame. The Fed should focus on stable prices, they are not an economic central planner for the American people,” DeSantis mentioned.
More on MarketWatch:
DeSantis guarantees to ‘rein in’ the Fed to struggle inflation, as Scott says he’d carry again Keystone XL pipeline
Trump tries to upstage GOP debate with rally focusing on South Florida’s Cuban neighborhood
‘Rich people should not be collecting Social Security,’ Chris Christie says at GOP debate
Source web site: www.marketwatch.com
