(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) The second GOP presidential debate concluded after two hours of heated discussion, with viewers running to social media to reveal the night’s winners and losers.
I have officially given up on this stupid @foxdebate. #SHUTUP this is the worst debate i have seen in my lifetime. Why does the @gop keep going to the networks? Only winner: Trump because he is not anywhere near. #foxfailure
— Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) September 28, 2023
As the candidates attempted, with limited success, to make their case against front-runner Donald Trump, the former president’s influence loomed large, likely proving to be the night’s biggest winner.
Meanwhile, Fox Business, which opted to co-host the Republican debate with Spanish-language media outlet Univision, came under fire from conservatives for its choice of moderators and pressing questions that failed to resonate with Republican voters.
First came the Trump topic. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie’s attempt at humor, dubbing Trump “Donald Duck,” failed to diminish his presence. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called out Trump for reportedly adding to the national debt.
Chris Christie confidently, straight to camera, threatens Donald Trump with the nickname “Donald Duck.” pic.twitter.com/8JqYrWGz1T
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 28, 2023
“Donald Trump… owes it to you to defend his record, where they added $7.8 trillion to the debt—that set the stage for the inflation that we have,” DeSantis asserted.
When Fox News moderator Dana Perino posed the question of who “should be voted off the island,” a clear reference to the reality show Survivor, most candidates hesitated to answer, with Haley asking whether it was a real question. Christie, the only candidate to respond, suggested, as expected, that Trump should be removed from the race.
Fox News actually tried to get the candidates to play Survivor and write down who they would “vote off the island.”
The candidates looked at Dana Perino like she was an insane person. pic.twitter.com/rL5YD4rrdM
— Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) September 28, 2023
Tensions flared between former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and firebrand Vivek Ramaswamy during the debate, particularly regarding issues related to China and Ukraine. Haley’s claim, “Every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say,” served as a personal jab against Ramaswamy, who had claimed he would use TikTok to win elections before banning it.
Nikki Haley to Vivek Ramaswamy:
“Honestly, every time I hear you I feel a little bit dumber.” pic.twitter.com/gdMAbs3swy
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) September 28, 2023
Frustration among viewers against Fox was loud and clear, with Glenn Beck, the founder of the Blaze, saying on Twitter, “I have officially given up on this stupid @foxdebate.” Beck’s criticism did not stop there, going as far as calling the show “the worst debate” in his lifetime. “Only winner: Trump because he is not anywhere near,” he concluded.
Univision anchor Ilia Calderón faced criticism for her claim, supported by dubious evidence, that Latino voters were increasingly concerned about gun violence and alleged hate crimes against the LGBT community.
Conservative scholar and Latin America expert Mike Gonzalez of the Heritage Foundation asserted his criticism on Twitter.
“Big mistake for @FoxNews to team up with @UnivisionNews for this debate,” Gonzalez added. “Amnesty for illegal immigrants is the number one issue for that network. That’s not the case for Hispanics. They don’t like the current chaos at the border.”
Big mistake for @FoxNews to team up with @UnivisionNews for this debate. Amnesty for illegal immigrants is the number one issue for that network. That’s not the case for Hispanics. They don’t like the current chaos at the border. #GOPDebate
— Mike Gonzalez (@Gundisalvus) September 28, 2023
Newsweek editor Josh Hammer chimed in, saying: “I legitimately do not understand how the RNC and Fox News let a Univision leftist co-moderate this ‘debate.’”
GOP candidates are scheduled to meet again on Nov. 8 in Miami, Florida for the third presidential debate.
I legitimately do not understand how the RNC and Fox News let a Univision leftist co-moderate this “debate.”
— Josh Hammer (@josh_hammer) September 28, 2023
