The first Republican debate was held last night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin – and the night’s biggest story related to the candidate who chose not to attend: former President Donald Trump.
Trump was front of mind throughout the debate despite his absence. Always lingering as a reference point and often mentioned explicitly, Trump was able to show how relevant he still is to the GOP, and in doing so, Trump may have “won” the debate without even attending.
Trump and the Debate
One of the more remarkable things about Donald Trump is how uniquely dominant he has been to the US political conversation.
For about eight years now, Trump has been inescapable, serving as the singular litmus test against which all other politicians measure themselves.
Weirdly enough, despite losing a presidential election three years ago, and despite (or perhaps thanks to) racking up indictments in four separate cases, Donald Trump is still the overwhelmingly dominant figure in the GOP and the clear-cut favorite to win the 2024 nomination.
“The Republican presidential candidates vying to be the leading alternative to front-runner Donald Trump fought – sometimes bitterly – over abortion rights, U.S. support for Ukraine and te type of experience needed to manage an expansive federal government during the first debate of the 2024 campaign,” The AP reported.
“But when it came to arguably the most consequential choice facing the party, virtually everyone on the debate stage in Milwaukee on Wednesday night lined up behind Trump.”
It’s pretty wild.
The candidates who are running against Donald Trump offering their support to Trump – who is one of the more deeply flawed candidates in modern political history.
Trump lost a presidential election to a low-quality Democratic opponent yet still wields power over a GOP that remains timid to challenge their demagogic leader.
“While the candidates repeatedly tangled – often talking over moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum – most refused to oppose Trump as the nominee, even if he becomes a convicted felon,” the AP reported.
“The question came nearly an hour into the debate and a day before Trump is set to surrender in Georgia on charges of trying to overturn the state’s 2020 election.”
What most of the GOP candidates recognize is one, that Trump demands absolute fealty, that any perceived slight against Trump will be penalized with politically-damaging ostracization, and two, the American right is still enamored with Trump, believing he has been wrongly persecuted within a two-tiered and corrupt justice system.
Opposing Donald Trump
Chris Christie was the most vocal dissenter, loudly voicing his disproval of Trump.
“Someone’s got to stop normalizing misconduct. Whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of president of the United States,” Christie said.
President of the United States Donald Trump speaking with supporters at an “An Address to Young Americans” event hosted by Students for Trump and Turning Point Action at Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Please attribute to Gage Skidmore if used elsewhere. By Gage Skidmore.
Christie was one of the first mainstream members of the GOP to endorse Trump as president back during the 2016 election. Christie then joined the Trump team, and even worked on the transition with the expectation of a plum assignment within the incoming administration. But Trump cast Christie aside, earning a scorn that is still burning seven years later.
Trump is likely going to win his third consecutive GOP nomination – which is a real shame for the GOP and the country.
Harrison Kass is the Senior Editor and opinion writer at 19FortyFive. An attorney, pilot, guitarist, and minor pro hockey player, Harrison joined the US Air Force as a Pilot Trainee but was medically discharged. Harrison holds a BA from Lake Forest College, a JD from the University of Oregon, and an MA from New York University. Harrison listens to Dokken.
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