Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis went head-to-head Wednesday night in the fifth Republican presidential primary debate, with several shots fired at the race's front-runner, who was absent from the match. President Donald Trump.
Despite being eligible, Trump refused to attend the CNN debate in Iowa, as he had in previous debates. Instead, the former president attended a Fox News Channel town hall also in Des Moines, Iowa.
Haley and DeSantis were asked whether Trump has what it takes to be president again.
“I think the next president needs moral clarity,” said Haley, a former two-term South Carolina governor. “I think it takes moral clarity to understand that it's not your money, it's the taxpayers' money. When we deal with the dictators of the world, we always have to I think we need moral clarity to understand what we have to fight for: democracy and human rights and protecting the American people and preventing war. ”
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley (right) looks toward Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (left) during the CNN Republican presidential debate at Drake University on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Chris Christie drops out of 2024 race, shoots Haley during Republican presidential campaign cancellation
”So I don't think President Trump is the right president moving forward,” he said. “I think it's time for a new generation of leaders who can make America proud again.”
”I wish Donald Trump would have been on this stage,” she later added, “He's the one I'm fighting for. He's the one I wish was here. need to be protected.”
DeSantis said Trump failed to fulfill multiple campaign promises during his presidency on issues such as reducing the national debt and border security.
“I appreciated President Trump's actions, but to be honest with you, he said he was going to build a wall and make Mexico pay for it. He didn't do that,” the governor said. “He said he was going to drain the swamp. He didn't do that. He said he was going to hold Hillary accountable, and he set her free. He was going to eliminate the debt. And we added another $7.8 trillion.''So we need to solve this problem and get it done.'' ”
Former President Donald Trump at Iowa City Hall on January 10, 2023. On FOX News Channel. (Fox News Digital)
Mr. DeSantis later said that, unlike Mr. Trump, as president he would make Mexico pay for the border wall.
”“We're going to build a wall,” he said, “and we're going to actually make Mexico pay for it, as Donald Trump thought he would.” The government plans to impose a fee on remittances sent abroad by workers. They will spend billions of dollars building a wall. ”
“He also promised record deportations,” he continued. “Donald Trump deported fewer people than President Barack Obama did. Biden let 8 million people into the country in just four years. We need to bring them all home.”
DeSantis also criticized Trump for not appearing at the debate, saying, “Donald Trump should be on this stage.”
“Every candidate needs to get votes,” he said. “Nobody has the right to vote for you. He comes here every once in a while and rants and then leaves. I've attended all 99 counties because it's important. You serve the people. You're a servant of the people.'' I'm not the kind of person who rules over people, and that's the type of president I would be. ”
The Trump campaign, contacted by FOX News Digital on Wednesday night, dismissed the attack.
“When two losers vying for distant second place catfight in front of 10 viewers on CNN, they have no legs to stand on,” the spokesperson said.
Former U.S. President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks at City Hall in Des Moines, Iowa, on January 10, 2024. (Kamil Krzazinski/AFP via Getty Images)
The debate took place just five days before the Iowa caucuses begin their 2024 voting calendar.
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie withdrew from the race hours before the debate began.
Christie, one of Trump's most vocal critics within the Republican Party, urged voters not to support the former president in a speech announcing his campaign suspension at a town hall event in Windham, New Hampshire.
Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie announced he is withdrawing from the race on Wednesday, January 10, 2024, during a town hall campaign event in Windham, New Hampshire. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bucati)
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
“But I also know that this is the right thing for me, because I want to promise you this: I will never allow Donald Trump to become president of the United States again. And It's more important than my own personal ambitions,” Christie said.
Get the latest on the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more with Fox News Digital's Election Hub.
