The first Republican presidential primary debate in Milwaukee showcased a heated rivalry between candidates. While Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has typically played second fiddle to former President Donald Trump in GOP presidential primary polls, it was Vivek Ramaswamy, an upstart entrepreneur aligning himself closely with Trump, who faced the most withering criticism on Wednesday night.
Ramaswamy, 38, has risen to the top tier of the Republican primary by passionately embracing Trump’s ideology of Trumpism. He has engaged with media outlets, promised to take Trumpism further than Trump himself could, and gained popularity among Trump supporters. However, the debate revealed that his rivals view him as inexperienced and willing to say anything without considering the consequences.
Critics, including former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, attacked Ramaswamy’s policy proposals on Ukraine, China, and Israel, claiming they would make America less safe. Former Vice President Mike Pence labeled him a “rookie” lacking relevant experience. In response, Ramaswamy threw punches of his own, accusing Christie of seeking a cable news contract, sarcastically wishing Haley success in her future career on defense contractor boards, and mocking his rivals as “super PAC puppets.”
During the debate, Ramaswamy launched more attacks than any other candidate on stage and faced more attacks as well. While some praised his performance as passionate and aligned with Trump, others saw him as petulant and immature.
Interestingly, Trump’s campaign and allies seemed to relish Ramaswamy’s presence, enjoying the fact that he received more attention than DeSantis, who has been the target of much of Trump’s criticism. Ramaswamy’s rivals saw their confrontations with him as their standout moments of the night.
Although Ramaswamy’s performance garnered attention, DeSantis allies expressed confidence in their candidate, emphasizing his presidential qualities and dismissing Ramaswamy’s attacks.
The debate left some questions unanswered, including Ramaswamy’s stance on the events of January 6, 2021. In response to a reporter’s question, Ramaswamy stated that he would address the topic in a future debate.
Overall, the debate highlighted the intense competition among Republican candidates as the primary race heats up.