The first debate between the Republican presidential candidates took place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with major topics related to former President Donald Trump, Ukraine and the abortion ban.
Trump’s supporters include former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, Senator Tim Scott, tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
Six of the eight Republican presidential candidates in the first debate on August 23. Photo: Reuters
Only former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchinson declined to endorse Mr Trump if the former president was convicted. Both men attacked Trump’s effort to overturn the 2020 election results.
Notably, Mr. Ramaswamy pledged to pardon Mr. Trump if elected president, and called on others to make similar pledges. Meanwhile, former Vice President Mike Pence said he would consider it.
During the debate, Mr. Pence also argued that Mr. Trump’s asking him to use his role in counting electoral votes to help overturn the results of the 2020 election was unconstitutional, and that he invoked the US Constitution Was.
In their closing statements, the candidates argued they could defeat President Joe Biden, describing the United States as battling inflation and a border crisis…
Former President Trump, who declined to participate in the debate, maintained his lead over Republican opponents in opinion polls despite facing four lawsuits. Although he did not attend the debate, Mr Trump appeared in an online interview attacking rival candidates, according to the AP news agency.
Mr Trump said he sat out the first Republican debate in Milwaukee because polls showed him far ahead of his opponents.
Trump to appear in Georgia court
In connection with the legal troubles, Mr. Trump agreed to appear in court on August 24 (local time) and agree to pay $200,000 to be released on bail in the state of Georgia.
According to the indictment, Trump committed a criminal offense for leading a group of 18 people to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the state. Under bail, he is prohibited from using social media to target associates and witnesses.
Also in the Georgia case, Trump’s former personal attorney – Rudolph Giuliani – appeared at an Atlanta jail on August 23. According to court documents, Mr Giuliani was required to post a $150,000 bail and not threaten any of his 18 co-conspirators or witnesses in the case.
Mr. Giuliani said: “This indictment is a sham. It is an attack on the Constitution.”
https://edition.cnn.com/politics/live-news/republican-debate-08-23-23/index.html
https://apnews.com/article/trump-skips-gop-presidential-debate-ae9bcfd8c3d492277cc3e7f77df9466d
