The Republican primary debate was touted as being a little anticlimactic following the last minute ditch by former President Donald Trump. But that doesn’t mean the rest of the field is taking it easy.

Here are some of the key moments from the first GOP primary debate.

Sen. Tim Scott: Vice President Mike Pence Did The Right Thing on Jan. 6 

Sen. Tim Scott said that former Vice President Mike Pence acted appropriately on January 6th by certifying Joe Biden as the president and upholding the integrity of the election process, despite pressures to undermine it.

Highlighting concerns about the perceived politicisation of the Justice Department, the senator from South Carolina, representing the GOP, conveyed his intention to dismiss Attorney General Merrick Garland and FBI Director Christopher Wray if he were to assume the presidency.

He articulated, “It is imperative for Lady Justice to remain impartial, symbolised by her blindfold. This foundational principle is essential for upholding public trust in our judicial system.”

Nikki Haley warns rivals about odds of federal abortion ban as candidates give their stance during Republican debate

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley branded herself as “unapologetically pro-life.” Nevertheless, she contended that the Republican Party should candidly communicate with the American populace regarding the practical challenges of enacting a nationwide ban on abortion.

Haley emphasised that securing 60 Senate votes and a majority in the House would be requisite for such legislation, implying that achieving these thresholds could prove to be a formidable task, potentially bordering on the unattainable. She then advocated for identifying areas of “consensus.”

However, this stance of seeking consensus on the matter was met with opposition from former Vice President Mike Pence.

While acknowledging their friendship, Pence questioned the emphasis on consensus, asserting that true leadership diverges from consensus. He pointed out how the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over the issue came into play and highlighted that the matter was not exclusively relegated to state-level decisions.

“To be honest with you, Nikki, you’re my friend, but consensus is the opposite of leadership,” Pence said, noting how the Supreme Court ceded the issues.

“They didn’t just send it to the states only. It’s not a states-only issue, it’s a moral issue.”

DeSantis says ‘first obligation’ is to defend US, rather than Ukraine

DeSantis said his primary responsibility is to protect the United States, rather than any other nation, not going to the extent of Ramaswamy in his stance against providing aid to Ukraine. While he ruled out the deployment of troops to Ukraine, he expressed intentions to bolster security at the southern border.

Furthermore, the governor of Florida indicated his intent to exert diplomatic pressure on European nations, urging them to amplify their support for Ukraine. In the past, DeSantis characterised the Russian incursion into Ukraine as a “territorial dispute.”

 While he ruled out the deployment of troops to Ukraine, he expressed intentions to bolster security at the southern border.

Furthermore, the governor of Florida indicated his intent to exert diplomatic pressure on European nations, urging them to amplify their support for Ukraine. In the past, DeSantis characterised the Russian incursion into Ukraine as a “territorial dispute.”

Chris Christie says Vivek Ramaswamy ‘sounds like ChatGPT’

Former Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, strongly criticised Vivek Ramaswamy for coming across as overly mechanical when he interrupted a conversation about climate change in the Republican primary debate on Wednesday.

“Hold on, I’ve had enough already tonight of a guy who sounds like ChatGPT,” Christie broke in.

“The last person in one of these debates, Bret, who stood in the middle of the stage and said, ‘What’s a skinny guy with an odd last name doing up here?’ was Barack Obama. And I’m afraid we’re dealing with the same type of amateur.”

Drawing a parallel, Christie himself had a noteworthy moment in a previous debate during the 2016 Republican primary. On that occasion, he took on Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for repetitively using an attack line against President Obama.

Christie at GOP Debate: “I Get the UFO Question?”

With less than 10 minutes remaining in the initial Republican presidential debate, the former Governor of New Jersey, Chris Christie, found himself faced with a question he may not have been expecting.

When moderator Martha MacCallum inquired about unidentified flying objects, Christie responded with a mixture of exasperation and jest, remarking, “I’m getting the UFO question?”

Subsequently, Christie went on to state, “The duty of a United States President is to be open with the American people on all fronts.”

Without delay, he shifted the conversation to critique teachers’ unions, humorously suggesting that they pose a greater threat than UFOs.

This discussion about UFOs during the debate coincided with heightened curiosity surrounding potential sightings, even capturing the interest of Congress members. In the days prior, a bipartisan trio of legislators urged the formation of a congressional select committee aimed at investigating any available evidence regarding unidentified aerial phenomena – the preferred terminology for UFOs in federal contexts.