Four candidates took the stage in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for the fourth 2024 Republican presidential primary debate: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
Former President Donald Trump, the front-runner in the race, skiped the event for a fundraiser in Florida.
Former Fox News host Megyn Kelly, NewsNation’s Elizabeth Vargas, and Washington Free Beacon Editor-in-Chief Eliana Johnson moderated the debate, which NewsNation hosted at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. The debate runs from 8-10 p.m. Eastern.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and former Vice President Mike Pence have dropped out of the race after previously appearing in the debates. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson remains in the race, though he has failed to qualify for any debate after the first.
9:14 p.m.: DeSantis, Haley Spar Over Trans Procedures for Kids
Haley used a leftist slur Wednesday evening to describe a bill that bans classroom discussions of gender and sexuality for children.
DeSantis slammed Haley’s remarks to “CBS Mornings” back in June.
“It wasn’t about the parents’ rights in education bill, it was about prohibiting sex-change operations on minors,” DeSantis said. “They do puberty blockers, they do irreversible—talk to [detransitioner] Chloe Cole, she went through this.”
“That is what Nikki Haley opposed,” the Florida governor added. “She said the law shouldn’t get involved in that, and I just ask you: if you’re somebody who’s going to be president of the United States, and you can’t stand up against child abuse, how are you going to be able to stand up for anything?”
Haley disputed DeSantis’ characterization, bringing up Florida’s HB 1557, the Parental Rights in Education Bill, which has drawn heavy fire from LGBTQ advocates, liberal media and Democrats.
“I never said that,” she responded. “I said that if you have to be 18 to get a tattoo, you should have to be 18 to have anything done to change your gender.”
“You said the law should stay out of it,” DeSantis responded.
During the June interview, Haley criticized pro-transgender policies that allow “biological boys” in girls’ locker rooms. Yet the interviewer asked her, “What care should be on the table when a 12-year-old child in this country assigned female at birth says, actually, ‘I feel more comfortable living as a boy’?” He asked if the law should allow that.
“Well, I think the law should stay out of it,” Haley said. “This is a job for the parents to handle.”
She went on to criticize the idea that kids should undergo permanent changes before they turn 18. She also emphasized that schools should not “go in and force things” on the issue.
Haley has previously criticized the idea that children should be allowed to undergo experimental transgender medical interventions before they turn 18.
“I actually said his ‘Don’t Say Gay’ bill didn’t go far enough,” she said.The Florida legislation does not mention the word “gay.” The law mentions the word “parent” 32 times and the word “parental” seven times. The law focuses on parental notification and parental awareness of what their kids are being taught or exposed to in school.
This is a breaking story and will be updated.
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