While GOP presidential candidates Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley met in a sharp CNN debate that brought out clear differences, Donald Trump provided clear counterprogramming.

As Donald Trump’s two main Republican rivals slugged it out Wednesday on an Iowa debate stage, the former president appeared across town on a Fox News Channel town hall in a counterprogramming move where few discouraging words were heard.

Trump walked onstage to cheers and chants of “USA,” stayed at the end to sign autographs and heard one audience member blurt out “love you” after he took her question.

He was barely challenged by questioners who left several challenging topics on the table — like Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election, his support for Capitol insurrectionists and legal arguments this week in which his lawyers claimed he had immunity from any potential crimes he might have conducted while in office.

When asked about his previous statements that a second term as president would be about retribution for his enemies, Trump said he wouldn’t have time for it.

    • Wooster@startrek.websiteEnglish
      192·
      1 year ago

      How would it be split? Unless Trump is successfully removed from the ballot, Trump is the only candidate that republican voters actually want.

      • cryptosporidium140@sh.itjust.works
        10·
        1 year ago

        I’m not too sure about that. There are Republicans who have never liked Trump, ones who have had enough of him, and ones who would die for him. If enough states successfully remove him the party might consider an alternative. In that case you’ll get a lot of write ins for Trump and an easy Democrat win. If they don’t go with an alternative, we can at least count on those states being blue

        • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
          113·
          1 year ago

          How did those never-Trumpers do in 2016? I’m pretty sure most of them ended up supporting Trump.

          • cryptosporidium140@sh.itjust.works
            72·
            1 year ago

            Sorry guys I didn’t mean to inject optimism into this thread

            Edit: Don’t forget we won 2020. We were smart to swap out Hillary after she lost 2016. Maybe they’ll be smart too. In fact, how many times has a losing candidate been chosen by their party again?

            • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
              72·
              1 year ago

              I’m glad you’re optimistic. I just don’t know, considering past history, if that’s the part to be optimistic about.

            • nicetriangle@kbin.social
              3·
              1 year ago

              I just think most of us have learned not to get our hopes up much for anything going well in US politics and especially wrt this guy. From where I’m sitting, being optimistic about something like a split conservative vote is just asking for major disappointment.

    • nicetriangle@kbin.social
      2·
      1 year ago

      Assuming he makes it through the primary on top (and he probably will), I just don’t think any of his opponents have the balls to run 3rd party.