In the aftermath of the recent Republican primary debate, former President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to express his views on the event and the participants.
He declared entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy as the victor of the debate, while also criticizing his potential 2024 rivals.
Trump's post on Truth Social, early Saturday morning, read, "So many people are asking what I thought of historys lowest rated presidential debate, & how would I rate the players. Its so easy to be a critic, but who on this subject would be better than me."
He began his critique by targeting Ron DeSantis, whom he referred to as "Ron DeSanctimonious," criticizing his demeanor and performance. He also took aim at Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor, whom he described as unfit for the presidency, both mentally and physically. Trump further accused Christie of suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome" at unprecedented levels, and referred to him as a "sick puppy."
The former President also declared the campaign of former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson as dead, despite Hutchinson not qualifying for the recent debate. He took a swipe at Nikki Haley, the former U.N. Ambassador, but conceded her second place in the debate.
Trump's post continued, "Vivek WINS because he thinks lm great." This endorsement came despite scrutiny over Ramaswamy's performance in the debate, where he labeled Haley a "fascist" and criticized Christie's foreign policy experience.
The debate, held in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and hosted by NewsNation, was the last one to be sanctioned by the Republican National Committee (RNC) in the primary cycle. The RNC announced on Friday that they would not sponsor debates in 2024, allowing candidates to participate in other forums.
Trump also criticized debate moderator Megyn Kelly, calling her "the biggest loser" of the event. He questioned her performance, stating, "She has lost whatever she once had, which wasnt very much. Some things never change!"
Republican strategist Scott Jennings commented on Ramaswamy's performance, stating, "Most of the people do not like the below-the-belt punches. They just think its out of bounds, especially coming from him." Jennings argued that while Ramaswamy may have tried to emulate Trump's style, it did not work in his favor due to the lack of "personal warmth and humor" that the former president possesses.
In response to the criticism, Ramaswamy's campaign has defended his performance. Tricia McLaughlin, senior advisor for Ramaswamys campaign, stated, "Vivek is gonna speak his convictions no matter what, and some people are gonna like it, and some people are gonna hate it."
Despite the controversy surrounding the debate, Trump's endorsement of Ramaswamy has added a new dynamic to the 2024 Republican primary race. As the candidates prepare for the next phase of the campaign, it remains to be seen how Trump's comments will impact their strategies and public perception.
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