Political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy deemed Donald Trump the “finest president of the twenty first century,” setting himself aside from different 2024 GOP contenders on the Milwaukee debate stage Wednesday who – whether or not they shied away from or straight attacked Trump – overtly threw help behind how former Vice President Mike Pence dealt with the occasions of Jan. 6, 2021.
“Let’s simply converse the reality, OK? President Trump, I consider, was the very best president of the twenty first century. It is a reality,” Ramaswamy stated. “And Chris Christie. Trustworthy to God, your declare that Donald Trump is motivated by vengeance and grievance could be much more credible in case your whole marketing campaign weren’t based mostly on vengeance and grievance in opposition to one man.”
“I’m working for president of america,” Ramaswamy added. “We’re skating on skinny ice. And we can not set a precedent the place the get together in energy makes use of police pressure to indict its political opponents. It’s incorrect. We’ve got to finish the weaponization of justice on this nation.”
Ramaswamy additionally challenged Pence to hitch him in committing to pardon Trump if elected president.
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“We’ll give honest consideration to a pardon request,” Pence stated, deflecting. “President Trump is entitled to the presumption of innocence that each American is entitled to. And we’ll be certain and prolong that to him. However the American individuals need to know that the president requested me in his request that I reject or return votes unilaterally – energy that no vp in American historical past had ever exercised or taken – he requested me to place him over the Structure. And I selected the Structure and I at all times will.”
Fox Information host Martha MaCallum requested candidates whether or not they believed Pence “did the appropriate factor” in certifying an election victory for Joe Biden amid the Jan. 6 riot on the U.S. Capitol.
Former Vice President Mike Pence and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy sq. off on the debate, on Aug. 23, 2023, in Milwaukee. (Fox Information)
Hesitant at first, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis agreed that Pence “did his obligation,” providing that specializing in Trump was a distraction.
“This election just isn’t about Jan. 6 of 2021. It is Jan. 20 of 2025 when the following president goes to take workplace,” DeSantis stated. “I do know what the Democrats wish to do. They wish to discuss all these different points. However we have got to focus in your future. We have to concentrate on reversing the decline of our nation. I realized within the navy – I used to be assigned with U.S. Navy SEALs in Iraq – that you simply concentrate on the mission above all else. You possibly can’t get distracted. So, Republicans, we have got to look ahead, and we have got to be sure that we’re bringing the message that may win in November 2024.”
Pence pushed again, demanding DeSantis reply the query as a result of “the American individuals need to know whether or not everybody on this stage agrees that I saved my oath.”
“Mike did his obligation. I’ve bought no beef with him,” DeSantis stated. “However here is the factor. Is that this what we’ll be specializing in going ahead? The rehashing of this? I will inform you, Democrats would love that, and they’ll win if we allow them to get away with that. I am not letting Biden hand around in the basement this time. We’ll run him ragged round this nation. We’ll maintain him accountable.”
Republican presidential candidates through the debate hosted by Fox Information in Milwaukee. (Al Drago/Bloomberg through Getty Pictures)
Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum all agreed that Pence “did the appropriate factor.”
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Scott’s response targeted on tackling the “greater query in regards to the weaponization of the Division of Justice,” vowing that the very first thing he’d do as president could be to fireside Legal professional Normal Merrick Garland and secondly, FBI Director Chris Wray.
“We hold seeing not solely the weaponization of the Division of Justice in opposition to political opponents, but additionally in opposition to dad and mom who present up at college board conferences,” Scott stated. “Along with that, we see the SWAT workforce present up at pro-life activists’ houses with weapons drawn as a result of this DOJ makes use of their energy, makes use of their authority, not simply in opposition to political opponents, however in opposition to conservatives and conservative causes. It’s time for a change in America, and I’ll convey that change to the best nation on God’s inexperienced Earth.”
“I do assume that we have to give [Pence] credit score for that however what I may even inform you is, in relation to whether or not President Trump ought to serve or not, I belief the American individuals,” Haley stated. “Allow them to vote. Allow them to determine. However what they are going to inform you is that it’s time for a brand new generational conservative chief. We’ve got to take a look at the truth that three-quarters of Individuals do not desire a rematch between Trump and Biden. And we have now to face the truth that Trump is essentially the most disliked politician in America. We won’t win a normal election that approach.”
Former President Donald Trump sat out the primary 2024 GOP main debate. (Sean Rayford/Getty Pictures)
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Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie stated Pence deserves thanks “for placing his oath of workplace and the Structure of america earlier than private, political and unfair stress.” Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson went the furthest, saying Trump was “morally disqualified” from being president once more.
