As The Race For 2024 US Presidency Gathers Momentum, Trump’s Absence From The Political Debate Becomes His ‘Trump’ Card, As Others Battled It Out With ‘Dumber’ ‘Reckless Spending’ And ‘We Don’t Trust You’ Charges!

The 2024 US Presidency primary debate unfolded with all the elegance of a Shakespearean tragedy, where the absence of former President Donald Trump – who is yet to appear alongside his rivals, became the party’s ‘Trump’ card. 

Amidst the backdrop of charges like “reckless spending” and “we don’t trust you,” Trump was nowhere to be seen, sipping tea (or, more likely, a golf course cocktail) somewhere far away.

The act of this political drama unfolded at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, with the seven GOP contenders providing the audience with a handful of memorable moments. 

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley started the show by unloading what felt like the entire field’s pent-up frustration on entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. “Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber,” she quipped, setting the tone for the evening.

Donald Trump Stole The Show

Of course, Trump’s absence was like a phantom in the room. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis complained that he was “missing in action,” while former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie cleverly labelled him “Donald Duck,” suggesting that he preferred to hide behind golf clubs than face his rivals on stage. Trump’s strategic move to avoid the intellectual battleground seemed to have worked.

The GOP field also took aim at President Joe Biden. 

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott criticized Biden for not joining striking auto workers in Michigan, suggesting he should be at the southern border instead. 

Former Vice President Mike Pence added that Biden should be “on the unemployment line,” while North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum accused him of meddling with “free markets”, see the beauty of unity in the Republican party!

However, amidst the chaotic debate hosted by Fox Business Network and Univision, it became apparent that Trump’s dominance in national and early-state polling remained unshaken. 

The frequent mess of crosstalk and interruptions could have easily led many viewers to tune out entirely, but who needs a coherent discussion when you have a captivating circus?

So, what were the key takeaways from this enthralling spectacle? 

• Trump’s safe approach of skipping the debates and running as an incumbent seemed to be paying off. 

• However, he faced a few shots from his rivals; DeSantis criticized him for deficit spending, and Christie humorously called for him to be “voted off the island.” But in the eyes of his loyal supporters, Trump remained untouchable.

• The debate itself was a messy affair, with interruptions, crosstalk, and protracted squabbles dominating the stage. 

• Some of the highest polling candidates, like DeSantis and Haley, seemed reluctant to dive into the chaos during the crucial first hour. 

• Moderators repeatedly tried to clear a path for DeSantis, but he remained absent from the proceedings, adding an air of mystery to the evening.

• Ramaswamy, the billionaire entrepreneur, fared somewhat better, speaking louder – and faster – than most of his rivals. But he was bogged down repeatedly when caught between his own talking points and cross-volleys of criticisms from frustrated candidates like Scott.

• Meanwhile, the feud between Tim Scott and Nikki Haley provided some entertainment. Scott accused Haley of spending extravagantly on curtains during her time as the US ambassador to the United Nations, leading to a spirited exchange about curtains. 

• The bickering between the two South Carolina natives appeared deep, but it’s worth noting that a decade ago, Haley appointed Scott to his Senate seat, a fact that seems to have been conveniently forgotten in this presidential race.

• DeSantis, confronted by his Republican competitors for the first time, delivered an uneven performance from the center of the stage. 

• Despite being given opportunities to respond, he let moments pass without defending himself effectively. However, he did manage to challenge Trump to a one-on-one face-off in a post-debate Fox News appearance because, you know, that’s how political debates work, right?

In the final minutes of the debate, the candidates faced tough questions about immigration and reaching out to Latino voters. 

Pence touted the 2017 tax reform bill and low unemployment rates for Hispanic Americans during the Trump-Pence administration, conveniently sidestepping any uncomfortable topics. 

Meanwhile, Scott stressed the importance of leading by example and proudly mentioned his Hispanic female chief of staff. 

Who needs comprehensive immigration reform discussions anyway?

Side Stepping Controversial Topics

The candidates seemed to avoid discussing abortion until more than 100 minutes into the debate as if it were a fleeting afterthought. 

Abortion, a crucial issue for many voters, received less attention than a viral TikTok video, and surprisingly, no one seemed to mind the lack of depth in this critical conversation.

As the night wore on, some candidates decided to pile on Vivek Ramaswamy; Scott accused the tech entrepreneur of having ties to the Chinese Communist Party and money going to Hunter Biden, causing a visibly annoyed Ramaswamy to defend his business record. 

The drama continued as Pence took a swipe at Ramaswamy, and Nikki Haley, never one to be left out, chimed in, claiming, “Every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber.” 

Last but not least, when it came to health care, DeSantis and Pence seemed to struggle to provide coherent responses; instead, DeSantis found himself discussing inflation and population growth to explain away Florida’s high uninsurance rates, while Pence conveniently pivoted to talking about tax reform and securing the border. 

Meanwhile, Haley eloquently argued for transparency in healthcare prices and an overhaul of lawsuit rules. 

To put it all eloquently, the debate was a bit of a miss; who needs clear, concise answers when you can navigate through a maze of diversion?

The Last Bit, the second GOP primary debate, was undoubtedly a dazzling showcase of political beat-up.

While the contenders engaged in verbal jousting, offering witty one-liners and memorable exchanges, Trump most likely watched from a distance, secure in his ‘Trump’ card strategy. 

It was surely a night to remember in American politics, where chaos reigned supreme, and substance took a back seat to theatrics.