The second Republican debate (GOP debate 2) ended on Wednesday (Sept 27), with seven candidates competing for dominance on stage. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum were among those in attendance.
Donald Trump skipped the gathering yet again, claiming to be the GOP’s undeclared presidential nominee, a claim supported by poll statistics. The vast majority of Republican supporters believe Trump is the best option to derail President Joe Biden’s push for a second term.
GOP debate 2: Who said what?
1. Ramaswamy
Ramaswamy, the Indian American politician, spoke about the recent United Auto Workers strike, saying that the country needed to ‘unlock American energy.’
“What we need is to deliver economic growth in this country. Unlock American energy. Drill, frack, burn coal, embrace nuclear energy, put people back to work by no longer paying them more money to stay at home, stabilize the US dollar itself, and rescind a majority of those unconstitutional federal regulations that are hampering our economy. That is how we unleash American exceptionalism,” he said at the event aired by Fox News.
According to Ramaswamy, the US has to severely militarize its border.”Militarise the southern border, stop funding sanctuary cities, and end foreign aid to Mexico and Central America,” he said.
2. Chris Christie
Except for Chris Christie, all Republican candidates avoided direct attacks on the previous president. Trump’s continued popularity among Republicans prevents his Republican opponents from slamming him too hard.
Christie, on the other hand, didn’t hold back. “You’re not here tonight because you’re afraid of being on the stage and defending your record,” he said addressing the former president. Chris Christie slammed Donald Trump once again on immigration, calling his immigration ideas a dismal failure.
“Treat this like the law enforcement problem that it is,” said Christie. “Our laws are being broken every day at the southern border. And Joe Biden and his crew are letting it go,” he added.
“Donald Trump failed on this as well,” he added while complaining that he failed to build his wall on the border with Mexico.
Chris Christie also stated that addressing the Russia-China alliance was his top priority.
3. Ron DeSantis
Trump’s top Republican competitor, Ron DeSantis, pointed out his absence at the gathering, stating, “Donald Trump is missing in action.”
DeSantis also mentioned confronting China, which he called a critical issue.
“This issue of China is going to be really fundamental,” he said, adding that it is critical that the US overcome China in the economy.
He went on to say that the US has “contracted out the majority of our needs” to Chinese firms.
DeSantis also stated that he would not hand Ukraine a “blank cheque,” but that ending the war was in the best interests of the United States.
4. Nikki Haley
According to Nikki Haley, border officials in the country are not being permitted to do their jobs honestly.”Go back to the Remain in Mexico Policy. Instead of catch-and-release go back to catch-and-deport,” she said.
5. Tim Scott
Tim Scott claims that 90% of the resources given to Ukraine are part of a loan that will be repaid by NATO countries.
6. Mike Pence
Mike Pence fiercely advocated sending Ukraine funding, saying that stopping it would give the “green light to China to take Taiwan”.