GOP primary candidates take the stage

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is widely seen as probably the most formidable challenger to frontrunner Donald Trump. DeSantis has consistently placed second in national polls of the sprawling GOP primary field. But his campaign has come under mounting pressure as Trump appears to be widening his lead over the governor and has already launched multiple “resets.” The 44-year-old former congressman is a graduate of Yale University and Harvard Law School and a veteran having served within the Navy’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

DeSantis’s right-wing policies have made him popular in his home state, but some worry stunts like sending migrants to democratic-run cities and his lawsuit against Disney may make him too polarizing for the final election.

— Emma Kinery

The Republican candidates are divided over America’s future role in Ukraine because the war marches into its 600th day.

Some candidates within the Republican field have come to the stout defense of Ukraine, NATO allies and American democracy. Others have called for policies that may pull U.S. involvement and support away from the European continent so as to cope with China’s global rise, North Korean ambition and Iranian aggression.

Nearly all the candidates have leveled criticism over Ukraine at President Joe Biden.

Read the complete story of where the candidates stand on the war in Ukraine.

— Amanda Macias

Vivek Ramaswamy, 38, is an entrepreneur and biotech founder with no prior military or political experience. He studied biology at Harvard University before attending Yale Law School. In 2014, he founded Roivant Science and resigned as CEO in 2021.

Ramaswamy recently suggested “the reality” concerning the September 11 attacks continues to be unknown. He initially claimed that he had been misquoted in an article by The Atlantic, nevertheless, the publication later released an audio clip of his interview showing that he was quoted accurately.

He has previously said that he opposes U.S. aid to Ukraine by arguing that the conflict on the European continent doesn’t affect American interests. He says the Russia-China axis is by far the highest threat to U.S. national security and will due to this fact pull more focus.

Ramaswamy has also detailed a peace settlement between Kyiv and Moscow that may include Ukraine conceding nearly all of its Donbas region to Russia in exchange for guarantees that Ukraine is not going to join the NATO alliance.

He recently pitched closing all American military installations positioned in Eastern Europe so as to appease the Kremlin. Ramaswamy says the U.S. in return should ask Russia to reduce its relationship with China.

— Amanda Macias

Around noon ET on Wednesday, hours before the primary Republican debate was set to start, the Trump campaign declared victory within the spar he is not participating in.

“President Trump has already won this evening’s debate because every little thing goes to be about him,” Trump campaign senior advisor Chris LaCivita said in a press release. “Only President Trump has the policy ideas, the fortitude, and the polling to go head-to-head with Crooked Joe Biden in the final election.”

LaCivita said the variety of times Trump’s name was mentioned throughout the debate can be counted as his speaking time.

“When the opposite candidates do get a probability to talk, they will likely be a faint echo, or possibly even a copycat, of President Trump’s Make America Great Again agenda.”

LaCivita closed by saying the event “really shouldn’t even be called a debate” but was more of an audition to be a part of Trump’s team.

— Emma Kinery

Candidates needed to satisfy the brink set by the Republican National Committee so as to qualify for the controversy.

Those benchmarks include at the least 40,000 individual campaign donations and meeting the polling qualifications, either 1% in three different national polls, or 1% in two national polls and 1% in one other poll from an early state like Iowa.

As a way to participate candidates also needed to sign a pledge of support to whomever gets the party’s nomination. Donald Trump, who’s the frontrunner within the race, has refused to sign the pledge.

In an interview with Newsmax, Trump was adamant he wouldn’t sign the pledge, saying “Why would I sign it? I can name three or 4 people who I would not support for president. So right there, there is a problem.”

— Emma Kinery

The talk will start at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday in Wisconsin, a battleground state, at Milwaukee’s Fiserv Forum.

Fox News is hosting the primary GOP presidential debate within the leadup to the primaries, with network hosts Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum on the moderating table. The talk will likely be available across all platforms operated by the Fox News network, including Fox Business Network, Fox News Digital, Fox’s website, the Fox Nation streaming service in addition to Fox News Audio.

— Amanda Macias