Republican debate – live updates: ‘Rookie’ Republican presidential candidate denies climate change in first election debate: Trump chooses to opt out| US politics live
Key points
- First TV debate of US presidential election campaign underway – meet the candidates taking part Donald Trump isn’t there – but he’s appeared in an interviewClimate change is a ‘hoax’, says youngest Republican candidate in history – and Biden responds Former president to be booked on more criminal charges tomorrowEx-New York mayor Giuliani booked at county jail – as bail set at $150,000 | here’s his mugshotMark Stone: What’s happening over the next few days – and why you should tune in nowHow big is Trump’s lead in the race for the Republican nomination?
Live reporting by Jess Sharp
03:55:39 Closing statements begin
The debate is now drawing to a close and the candidates have been asked to deliver their final statements.
03:51:47 Six of the eight Republican presidential hopefuls would support Trump even if he was convicted
Six of the eight Republican presidential hopefuls have indicated they would support Donald Trump as the 2024 White House nominee even if he is convicted of a crime.
Trump, who skipped the debate to sit instead for a friendly interview with conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, has only solidified his lead among Republican voters in opinion polls despite facing four separate criminal indictments.
The following raised their hands in support of the former president:
- Former Vice President Mike Pence Florida Governor Ron DeSantisFormer South Carolina governor Nikki HaleyUS Senator Tim ScottTech entrepreneur Vivek RamaswamyNorth Dakota Governor Doug Burgum
Only former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson – both of whom have attacked Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss – declined to raise their hands when asked on Fox News whether they would back a convicted Trump.
03:48:08 Kari Lake spotted in audience of debate
Kari Lake has been spotted in the audience of the Republican presidential candidate debate in Milwaukee.
You may remember her as the Republican candidate for the Arizona governor, who was endorsed by Donald Trump, but lost the race last year.
She is one of the so-called “election deniers” who has questioned the result of the 2020 presidential vote, yet remains one of the sensations of the midterm elections.
It seems she has been impressed with Vivek Ramaswamy so far…
03:37:03 ‘Crooked’ Biden is ‘worst president’ in US history, says Trump
While the debate takes a break, we’ve had a chance to catch up on more of Donald Trump’s interview with Tucker Carlson.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the former US president devoted much of his time to attack Joe Biden – his potential challenger in the 2024 election.
The Republican said he had decided to dub his Democrat rival “crooked Joe Biden”, similar to the nickname he used for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election campaign.
“He’s a corrupt person. So corrupt that I took the name off Hillary, I don’t do two people at one time,” he said.
“Crooked Joe Biden is so bad, he’s the worst president in the history of our country. I don’t think he’s going to make it to the gate, but you never know.”
03:32:22 Strategy on Trump remains the same – stay aligned to his policies and hope someone else brings him down
By James Matthews, US correspondent
Chris Christie was always cast as critic-in-chief of Donald Trump and he duly delivered with “someone’s got to stop normalising this conduct.”
There were some cheers from the live audience, but his comments drew a cacophony of boos that chimed with received wisdom on the debate stage – attacking the former president offends a sizeable Trump support entrenched in the Republican Party, of a size that has him way out in front.
Ron De Santis has certainly twigged it – hence the non-answer when asked if Mike Pence did the right thing when he certified the election in defiance of January 6 riots.
He wouldn’t be drawn on a definitive answer, of a sort that might have kick-started his performance on the night and in the polls.
It seems clear that the strategy remains the same re Trump – stay aligned on his politics, hope that someone or something else brings him down and be front of the queue to pick up a decanted vote.
03:27:15 Commit to pardoning Donald Trump- Ramaswamy urges Pence
As the moderators try to move the debate on from Donald Trump, Mike Pence asks if he can “speak on this issue”, telling them he wasn’t done.
He is quickly interrupted by Vivek Ramaswamy who urges him to commit to pardoning the former US president.
“Why don’t you say this? Join me in making a commitment that on day one you would pardon Donald Trump. I was the only candidate on this stage that has the courage to say it,” he says.
While Trump is facing charges related to the 2020 election, he has not been found guilty of any crimes.
Mr Pence responds by saying if he is the president he will give “fair consideration to any pardon request” but believes Trump will not be found guilty.
03:13:11 Trump is ‘morally disqualified’ to run for president again
Back to the debate, and Donald Trump has finally been mentioned by the moderators and the candidates are having their say.
Asa Hutchinson, who has been described by the former president as “pathetic”, says Trump is “morally disqualified” from leading the US again.
His comment isn’t met favourable by the audience who start booing very loudly.
“Obviously, I’m not going to support somebody who’s been convicted of a serious felony or who is disqualified under our constitution,” Mr Hutchinson adds.
Chris Christie pushed to “stop normalizing” Trump’s conduct — and he was also booed for it.
Of course, Trump is the only president in history to be impeached twice, and he is currently facing charges over attempts to illegally overturn the 2020 election in the state of Georgia.
03:07:00 What has Donald Trump said about the Republican candidates?
Stepping away from the debate for a moment, we have some more lines from the Tucker Carlson interview with Donald Trump…
During the 46-minute-long clip shared on X, Trump is asked what he thought of his Republican rivals.
“I don’t want to really use names”, he says before adding: “but it wouldn’t matter too much.”
He then went on to criticise candidate Asa Hutchinson as “weak and pathetic”.
Trump says he had nicknamed Mr Hutchinson “Ada” but refused to say why because “I don’t want to get myself in a little trouble”.
He added: “I never understood the guy. I never knew him… he’s nasty, always has been.”
Trump also took a swipe at his former ally Chris Christie, who he said could not be trusted.
“He’s like a lunatic… his poll numbers are very low,” Trump added.
02:56:55 What are the candidates saying about abortion?
An important topic in the US and around the world has been mentioned to the candidates: Abortion.
The Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade last year, ending a federal right to abortion access.
Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley is calling for the situation to be “humanised” and no longer “demonised” but says she is “unapologetically pro-life”.
She urges for a consensus on the issue, adding: “It is personal for every woman and man. Can’t we all agree that we should ban late-term abortions?
“Let’s treat this like a respectful issue that it is.”
Governor Ron DeSantis is asked about the issue, saying he is “proud” to have signed legislation creating a six-week abortion ban in Florida.
He signed the bill shortly after the legislature passed it in April
Asked if he would sign the same ban federally, he says he “stands on the side of life”.
Mike Pence is next to speak on the topic, and he says he has been a “champion for life” as governor and vice president.
North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum says: “I am on the record and I stand behind that we should not have a federal abortion ban.”
Tim Scott says it is “immoral” and “unethical” to have “abortions on demand up until the day of birth”.
One thing is clear, Haley’s wish for consensus is not going to be granted on this stage…
02:46:53 Climate change is a ‘hoax’, says Ramaswamy
A question is put to the candidates, asking if the Republican Party is taking climate change seriously and if they believe it i caused by human behaviour.
Vivek Ramaswamy quickly jumped in and said “the climate change agenda is a hoax”, sparking a huge round of boos from the audience.
Chris Christie responds calling the 38-year-old a “guy that sounds like ChatGPT” – the well-known AI software.
It seems Joe Biden is listening to the debate as well, and he’s already responded to Ramaswamy’s remark…
This content is provided by , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options. Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
Source