Eight presidential hopefuls participated in the first Republican debate, focusing on topics like leadership experience, abortion, and climate change, according to CNBC.

The candidates that participated in first Republican debate were:

  • Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis

  • North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum

  • Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie

  • Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley 

  • Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson

  • Former Vice President Mike Pence

  • Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy

  • Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina

The debate allowed the candidates to energize their campaigns and challenge each other.

Despite the large number of GOP candidates, the primary cycle has often seemed dominated by the perceived rivalry between former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Donald Trump chose not to participate in the debate, signaling his confidence in securing the nomination.

Instead, he conducted an interview with Tucker Carlson, a former Fox host, which was broadcast on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Trump expressed reluctance to participate in a Republican debate where he might face criticism from candidates he considered unworthy of the presidency, and on a network he felt unfavorable.

READ NEXT: Donald Trump Won't Join Republican Debate, Here's Why 

6 of 8 Republican Presidential Candidates Say They Would Still Support Trump if He Wins GOP Nomination

The leading contender for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, former President Donald Trump, is expected to turn himself into authorities at an Atlanta jail.

This action comes a day after he chose not to participate in the first Republican debate. If this occurs, it will be a historic event as he would be the first former US president to have a mug shot taken, AP reports.

Trump is facing charges related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia.

Despite Trump's legal situation, his criminal proceedings did not play a significant role in the debate on Wednesday.

Six out of the eight candidates on stage supported Trump's potential nomination in 2024.

This marks the fourth criminal case against Trump since March, making him the first former US president to be indicted.

He has also faced federal charges in Florida and Washington, and recently, he was indicted in Atlanta along with 18 others, including his former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, under a racketeering statute typically associated with organized crime.

In the same debate, Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina and former US ambassador to the United Nations, criticized fellow Republican candidates for contributing to the nation's fiscal challenges.

She specifically pointed out Ron DeSantis, Rick Scott, and Mike Pence for their votes on legislation that increased the national debt, per CBS News.

Haley also criticized Trump for adding $8 trillion to the national debt during his single term in office.

She highlighted concerns about the financial burden being passed on to future generations, particularly through the approval of large COVID relief bills and increased earmark requests in the 2024 budget.

Rookie Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy Manages To Get Through Hot Seat

In the absence of former President Donald Trump from the debate, Ron DeSantis, the second-place contender and Florida Governor, was expected to face most attacks from fellow candidates.

However, Vivek Ramaswamy, a rising candidate in third place, found himself at the center of attention, The Washington Post noted.

Ramaswamy's interactions with Mike Pence and Chris Christie stood out during the first Republican debate. Both Pence and Christie criticized Ramaswamy for his perceived lack of political experience.

Christie compared Ramaswamy's initial answer, which referred to himself as "a skinny guy with a funny last name," to a similar statement by Barack Obama.

Christie also humorously referred to Ramaswamy as "a guy who sounds like Chat GPT," referencing the AI model.

Despite the criticisms, Ramaswamy remained composed throughout and seemed to benefit from being pitted against two candidates who were not as popular among the audience.

Ramaswamy even offered a strong defense of Trump, accusing Christie of criticizing Trump without a clear vision for the country.

Ramaswamy frequently interjected and managed to draw attention to himself, capitalizing on the relatively lenient enforcement of the debate rules.

However, Ramaswamy faced challenging moments when other candidates, including Nikki Haley, questioned his approach to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Haley accused him of prioritizing Russia over US allies and criticized his stance on Israel.

Despite these moments, Ramaswamy generally seemed to have the support of the audience throughout the Republican debate.

READ MORE: Mike Pence Joins 2024 Republican Presidential Race 

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: First 2024 Republican presidential debate tonight - From KTVU FOX 2 San Francisco