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.

  • @[email protected]
    33•6 months ago

    Trump is the US’s Putin. It’s all very obvious but we’re just walking right into it anyway.

      • @Ashyr
        7•6 months ago

        Have you seen Ukraine? Putin is the sort of guy that claims to be a chess master while forgetting how the horsies move and knocks over the board on accident when he gets pummeled as a result.

  • Flying Squid
    25•6 months ago

    and heard one audience member blurt out “love you” after he took her question.

    She wouldn’t be the first deluded person to fall in love with a rapist, sadly.

    • WashedOver
      11•6 months ago

      Amazing the “love” he gets from women when this is the way he gives out love:

      The more than 25 women who have accused Trump of sexual assault or misconduct (which he has denied), and the countless more who have endured public vitriol and threats to their life after being targeted by him, have all been punished either for challenging him or for denying him what he fundamentally believed was his due.

      It’s almost on the level of Jesus there /s

  • @[email protected]
    19•6 months ago

    What a circus.

    I’m wondering how much both of them were both sucking on Trump’s dick while also going against him, a dude who was too much of a coward to even show up.

    Weak ass GOP.

    • @[email protected]English
      17•6 months ago

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

        • Flying Squid
          7•6 months ago

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

            • Flying Squid
              5•6 months 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
              3•6 months 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
      2•6 months 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.