A climate protester disrupted an evangelical forum in Des Moines, Iowa, an event that drew three of the leading Republican contenders for president on Friday.
Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, sitting between Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, had just finished speaking about the miscarriage his wife suffered before the birth of his son, prompted by a conversation about being "pro-life."
The unnamed disrupter interjected with shouts of "Repent! Repent!" at the event, hosted by the Christian group the Family Leader. "How can you guys talk about being pro-life when our children's future is on fire? You've got a beautiful son. His future is on fire," he continued before he was eventually escorted out of the room.
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Attendees of the Thanksgiving family forum shouted down the protester, and Bob Vander Plaats, the influential Iowa faith leader who heads the Family Leader, continued on with the discussion once the disruption ended.
Ramaswamy's son had joined him onstage just before the climate protester interrupted. "When you bring life into this world, you protect all life born and unborn," Ramaswamy said. Like Ramaswamy, both DeSantis and Haley had finished speaking about the struggles they faced in having children as part of the discussion on abortion.
DeSantis, who has signed a six-week restriction into law this year, declared, "If we can't stand for a culture of life, then we're not worth very much at all."
"I have always said I'm unapologetically pro-life, not because the Republican Party tells me to be but because my husband was adopted," Haley said.
Former President Donald Trump skipped the event, the second time this campaign cycle he has not attended an event put on by Vander Plaats, whom he is feuding with. The forum is one of the last chances for evangelical Christians to hear from most of the 2024 field ahead of the crucial Jan. 15 Iowa caucuses.
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Vander Plaats has not endorsed a candidate in the primary, but Desantis won the backing of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R), who is in attendance at the forum. In contrast, Haley launched a $10 million Iowa and New Hampshire ad blitz in the wake of the third GOP primary debate last week. Meanwhile, Ramaswamy rolled out an eight-figure ad buy earlier this month in two of the first early nominating states as he seeks to reverse sliding poll numbers.
The fourth GOP debate will be held on Dec. 6 in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Haley, DeSantis, and Ramaswamy will likely face off on stage once again. Trump, who hasn't attended any previous debate, is skipping the Alabama showdown.