In the first primary debate of the 2024 election cycle, eight Republican presidential candidates took the stage, but it was former President Donald Trump who stole the spotlight, despite his decision to snub the event. Leading his rivals by a large margin in polling, Trump opted for a recorded interview with Tucker Carlson instead. However, his presence was still felt as his multiple prosecutions became the subject of questions from the Fox News hosts moderating the debate. Candidates were asked if they would support Trump as the party's nominee if he is convicted in one of his criminal cases.

President Donald J. Trump: the first man in history to win a debate without even being on the stage! 😂 pic.twitter.com/U5fjHCXYtd

— Kari Lake (@KariLake) August 24, 2023

While every candidate, except for Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, raised their hand in support, Hutchinson stated, "Obviously, I'm not going to support somebody who's been convicted of a serious felony." Christie argued that someone needed to stop normalizing Trump's conduct, as it is beneath the office of the President of the United States. Trump, who is facing his fourth indictment of the year, accused of a criminal conspiracy to steal the 2020 election, stated that it did not make sense for him to participate in the debate, as he was leading the Republican presidential nomination race by a substantial margin. He criticized President Joe Biden, calling him the worst president in history and questioning his mental and physical capabilities.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, considered Trump's closest rival, saw the debate as an opportunity to reverse his declining poll numbers and establish himself as a viable alternative. DeSantis emphasized the decline of the country and stated that it is a choice, not an inevitability. He also talked about his record on keeping Florida open during the Covid-19 pandemic, earning applause when he mentioned his willingness to fire government scientist Anthony Fauci. The debate provided an opportunity for candidates to position themselves as potential running mates for Trump.

While lower-profile candidates like businessman Vivek Ramaswamy used the event to introduce themselves to the wider public and make their case for jobs in a future Trump administration. Trump's former vice president, Mike Pence, claimed to be the best-prepared candidate for office but faced criticism and accusations of being a "rookie" from Ramaswamy. The candidates expressed varying views on climate change, street crime, and abortion access.

Pence rebuked former UN ambassador Nikki Haley for calling for consensus on the abortion issue. The debate highlighted the polarization that exists in America over this topic. Prior to the debate, the Biden campaign purchased expensive ad slots on Fox News and its website. President Biden expressed his intention to watch as much of the event as possible. Meanwhile, Trump's former attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who is charged with racketeering alongside Trump and 17 other co-defendants, surrendered in Georgia just hours before the debate. Giuliani stated that he was honored to be involved in the case, as he believes it is a fight for the American way of life.