By Wonderwall.com Editors
9:12am PDT, Aug 27, 2023
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With former President Donald Trump, the GOP frontrunner, skipping the first Republican presidential primary debate — which was hosted by Fox News in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Aug. 23, 2023 — eight other GOP candidates vied for second place amid their bids for the country's top job.
Going at it? Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, businessman Vivek Ramaswamy, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, U.S. Senator Tim Scott, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
See what Hollywood stars and other notable names had to say about what happened during the first Republican debate…
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"I should not be bored this early in the debate," Megyn Kelly wrote on X, formerly Twitter, later adding, "Thoughts after first block: Vivek is too smiley; crossed over from nice guy to feeling forced. DeSantis is strong on substance but his smile thing after the answers feels odd. Tim Scott made us laugh and that's a plus."
She shared more reactions as the night went on including, "Interesting how Pence keeps coming for Vivek," and "Is it just me or has Christie lost a little off his fastball?" as well as "I did not have 'Mike Pence will keep things spicy' on my debate Bingo card."
She ended her commentary with this: "With no clear winner, the winner was Trump. Nothing happened to change the dynamic of this race tonight."
MORE: Stars react to Trump's federal indictment in classified documents case
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Piers Morgan shared his opinion about the first GOP candidate debate that aired on Fox News on Aug. 23. "This is a LOT more entertaining than predicted… candidates ripping into each other with venomous relish. #Debate @FoxNews," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter, later calling it "really interesting – lots of genuine substantive debate and difference of opinion, all passionately argued with some spicy personal animus. I'm really enjoying it!"
He also shared this thought: "Haley spot on about Ukraine, and Ramaswamy oddly deluded. So weird to hear Republicans suggest Putin should be given what he's stolen. #Debate," he wrote before giving his opinion once all was said and done:
"My instant #GOPDebate verdict:
Pence too dull/defensive
Scott too quiet
Bergum/Hutchinson too worthy
Vivek lively & passionate, even when he was wrong (Ukraine)
Christie combative
DeSantis very solid
Haley impressive."
MORE: Stars react to Donald Trump's fourth indictment
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Donald Trump Jr. appeared in the media area outside the spin room at the Fox News debate location on Aug. 23, The New York Times reported, where he called Vivek Ramaswamy the "standout" performer. He also described Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as a "panicked deer in the headlights."
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"I watched both non-events and believe me, the debate, even at it's worst, was better than that ridiculous interview with TFG. They spent 10 minutes debating whether Jeffrey Epstein was murdered or committed suicide! Decision? Coulda been. Maybe. Who knows?" –Bette Midler, talking on X, formerly Twitter, about watching both the Republican debate and Donald Trump's interview with Tucker Carlson, which was released on X at the same time
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"Wow @VivekGRamaswamy sure is sucking all the oxygen out of the room. Are they giving him too much airtime? #GOPDebate," Katie Couric wrote on X, formerly Twitter, while watching the debate.
She also weighed in with this: "'I do think the Vice President did the right thing—but I trust the American people.' @NikkiHaley trying hard not to offend Trump supporters. #gopdebate," she wrote after noting, "The audience seems to be a hardcore MAGA crowd. #gopdebate."
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"tRump is seriously off his mean nickname game if he doesn't call Vivek Ramaswamy: 'Ramasmarmy.'" –Mark Hamill
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"Ramaswamy says Chris Christie is auditioning for MSNBC. By sucking up to Trump, what is Ramaswamy auditioning for?" –Billy Baldwin
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Former Senator (and "Saturday Night Live" star) Al Franken live-tweeted the whole debate. A few highlights:
"Ramaswamy didn't vote in presidential elections? Oh my! He was eligible to vote in 5 but only voted in 2."
"DeSantis won't answer the basic question. Did Pence do the right thing?"
"Ramaswamy would cut spending to Ukraine. Putin thanks him for the support."
"I guess I don't get to pick the Republican nominee, because it would not be Trump or Ramaswamy."
"Burgum showing his ignorance. Biden did not greenlight Putin into Ukraine."
"Scott wants to fire IRS agents so his rich donors can escape paying their taxes. Crowd seems bored by Scott."
"Pence defending Trump's immigration policy. Didn't mention separating kids from their families and not keeping track of them so they could be reunited. Cruelty was the point."
"Critical race theory was never taught in Florida in K-12, so DeSanitis is LYING when he says he eliminated it."
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"I didn't see one possible President on the stage of the Republican debate tonight. And the one who wasn't there must never be again." –Rob Reiner
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"Fear horror – hate – greed – preserve minority rule by dividing human beings turning humans again at each other at every chance / Preserve the chaos and disorder so the ruling class can continue the uninterrupted plunder of earth – rinse repeat Nothing but fascism" –John Cusack, commenting on the Republican agenda following the Aug. 23 debate on Fox News
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"Normally I watch 'Antiques Roadshow' or listen to Garrison Keillor to help me go to sleep, but I think this might be even more effective" –John Rich, responding to a story on the eight GOP candidates who qualified for the Republican debate that aired on Fox News on Aug. 23
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"Trump is afraid to debate even fellow MAGA Republicans? Instead he runs to the disgraced Tucker Carlson for reassurance. –Barbara Streisand
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"The #GOPDebate last night was out of sync with the mood of the country. It began with a request for comment on Oliver Anthony's @AintGottaDollar song, 'Rich Men North of Richmond.' Now that is an extraordinary song — raw, yet intelligent; defiant, yet compassionate. It's about working-class hardship. It is about low wages ('bulls*** pay'). It's about degraded food supply, elite corruption, obesity, homelessness, despair.
Candidates could have talked about these things. But they said nothing about the desperation + hardship working people face. They said nothing about wages or housing, food, child care + medical costs, or what we can do about it. They said nothing about systemic corruption that enriches corporations + elites as swaths of the former middle class fall into poverty.
Instead, they recycled Reagan-era cliches about cutting spending, being 'tough' on drugs, crime, China, etc., and ending abortion. They were obsessed with 'America's adversaries' — but blind to how our policies have been deliberately constructed to CREATE adversaries and enrich the defense industry while bankrupting the nation.
"They were obsessed with closing the border (which I agree with), but have no proposals to expand legal immigration or address the conditions that drive migration (again, in large part that is U.S. policy). They obsess about cutting spending (except defense — they want MORE of that) but offer not innovative proposals to address the decay of our infrastructure, wages + environment.
Our nation deserves better than posturing + bickering masquerading as debate. Instead of arguing, we can tap into the swelling popular will to turn this country around. Oliver Anthony has tapped into something that can unify our nation. Nearly everyone wants to reverse our decline, to end the corruption, to rebuild from the inside. Let's talk about how to do that. #Kennedy24″ –Robert F. Kennedy, who's running for president as a Democrat
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"…being asked to 'raise your hand' is infantile. It's like being asked to wear a stupid hat. Go f*** yourself. Ask a question. … There's another pledge the candidates should take: WE WON'T 'RAISE OUR HANDS' AT A DEBATE. … They could say, 'If you own a pair of shoes raise your hand,' and I'd sit motionless," Ann Coulter wrote on X, formerly Twitter, later adding, "No, Vivek, we feel like we ARE watching MSNBC with this endless Trump obsession at the Fox debate zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz."
