The Republican Presidential Debate in Alabama was filled with tension, fiery exchanges, and unforgettable moments. Here are the top five highlights of the night.
1. Name calling and personal jabs
The debate took a sharp personal turn when some of the candidates began directly attacking each other using offensive language. Senators Ted Cruz and Rand Paul were at the center of the name calling, with Paul accusing Cruz of “subterfuge.” Cruz fired back at Paul, calling him a “comic-book villain.” Donald Trump attempted to defend himself against criticism from Paul, calling him a “disaster.”
These personal jabs and name calling resulted in a heated exchange between the rivals.
2. Trump stands his ground
Throughout the night, Donald Trump was on the defensive, but that didn’t stop him from standing his ground. When he was asked about his plan to build a wall on the Mexican border, he succinctly answered with: “We’re going to build a wall. It’s going to be a great wall, and it’s going to be a wall that works.” He received a standing ovation from the audience for his response.
3. Kasich and Rubio spar
Governor Kasich and Senator Rubio both had their eyes set on the White House, and they showed it during the debate. Kasich accused Rubio of being too partisan and too inexperienced, while Rubio argued that Kasich lacked a strong foreign policy background. They traded barbs throughout the night and it was clear that the two were not going to let the other one win.
4. Cruz and Trump face off
The night’s most memorable moment was when Cruz and Trump squared off in an intense exchange over immigration. Cruz took shots at Trump over his past support of amnesty for undocumented immigrants, and Trump responded by accusing Cruz of being “anti-women.” The two men had to be separated by moderators as the argument quickly turned into a full-on shouting match.
5. Attacks on the Obama administration
The Republican candidates used the debate to attack the Obama administration, taking aim at what they saw as wrong policies. Whether it was foreign policy, the economy, health care, or education, there wasn’t a single issue that went untouched. While the debate was mainly focused on policy, the candidates were also quick to take shots at President Obama himself.
The Republican Presidential Debate in Alabama was an interesting night of debate, and provided many memorable moments. The name calling and personal jabs, Trump’s steadfast defense of his plans, the Kasich and Rubio sparring match, the Cruz-Trump showdown, and the attacks on the Obama administration all made for an exciting and entertaining evening.