Trump calls Chris Christie ‘maniac’ and body-shames Biden in Tucker Carlson interview - live updates

Donald Trump spent the first few minutes of his interview with Tucker Carlson bashing other GOP candidates and President Joe Biden.

Mr Trump took a hit at former New Jersey governor Chris Christie calling him a “savage manaic” and a “lunatic.”

Turning his attention to President Joe Biden, Mr Trump claimed he was too weak to be president.

The ex-president refused to participate in the Republican Party’s first primary debate of the 2024 election season and opted to air a 46-minute interview with Mr Carlson.

Meanwhile, the first mugshots of Mr Trump’s codefendants in the Georgia election interference case have been released.

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, two more codefendants Cathy Latham and David Shafer were also booked into the jail. In the afternoon former Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell also surrendered.

Mr Trump has announced that he plans to surrender on Thursday – hours after skipping the first Republican presidential debate on Wednesday night.

Key points

• Tucker Carlson interview: Trump addresses possible assassination and ‘open conflict’ in US

• Rudy Giuliani calls his arrest ‘attack on the American people’

• Key witness in Mar-a-Lago documents case flips to implicate Trump

• Trump granted $200,000 bail in Georgia and ordered not to make threats on social media

• Trump refuses to attend any debates

Trump mugshot expected today as he plans to surrender for Georgia arrest

10:20 , Rachel Sharp

Donald Trump will surrender to authorities in Georgia today to be arrested on charges of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election in the state.

He will turn himself in at Fulton County Jail on Thursday evening where he is expected to have his mugshot taken – a historic moment marking the first time that a current or former president has ever appeared in a booking photo.

Several of Mr Trump’s 18 codefendants in the case – including former Mr Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell – have already surrendered and their humiliating mugshots have started to be released.

The funniest tweets reacting to the Republican debate

10:00 , Oliver O'Connell

The first Republican presidential debate officially kicked off the 2024 election cycle on Wednesday evening.

As eight candidates went head-to-head on the stage in Milwaukee, viewers at home chimed in to ridicule the endless arguments the group engaged in for two hours.

X, formerly known as Twitter, was alight with jokes about the similarities between the show Succession and the debate, the passionate fight between candidates and some appearances.

Ariana Baio compiled some of the best reactions.

The funniest tweets reacting to the first Republican debate

Trump brands Pence a ‘conveyor belt’

09:30 , Oliver O'Connell

He’s probably been called worse but nevertheless, Donald Trump called Mike Pence a “human conveyor belt” for not going through with his 2020 election conspiracy theory to help keep him in the White House despite his defeat by Joe Biden.

Graeme Massie has the story.

Trump brands Pence a ‘conveyor belt’ for not going through with election conspiracy

Trump mocked for calling out Biden’s ‘skinny legs’

09:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Gustaf Kilander reports on an odd moment in a whole interview of odd moments...

Trump mocked for calling out Biden’s ‘skinny legs’ on beach vacation

‘Would you back Trump’ question sparks awkward moment...

08:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Six out of eight Republican presidential candidates raised their hands to say they would support Donald Trump as the GOP nominee even if he was convicted in one of the multiple criminal trials he faces.

But there were awkward moments...

Awkward delay from Christie, DeSantis and Pence when asked if they back Trump

Watch: Don Jr gripes he wasn’t allowed into Fox News spin room

08:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Document barring Trump team from entry spotted at debate venue

07:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Security at the first Republican primary debate of the 2024 presidential election was directed to bar members of the Trump campaign from entry, according to a document seen by news crews.

It’s the latest drama surrounding Donald Trump’s decision to skip the debate in favour of a one-on-one interview with former Fox anchor Tucker Carlson.

The directive included pictures of Trump staffers Jason Miller, Justin Caparole, and Danny Tiso,” and said the men were “not approved for entry.”

Josh Marcus reports.

Document barring Trump team from entry spotted at first Republican debate

So... who won the debate?

07:15 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s The Independent’s Eric Garcia with his take on the winners and losers of the night.

Who won the Republican debate?

Watch: GOP candidates call out Trump at debte

07:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Watch: DeSantis ‘worst of all eight candidates'

06:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Jen Psaki: “I don’t remember a single thing Ron DeSantis said.”

Not good for a first debate.

‘What she said’: Biden cheered for damning three word tweet on Republican debate

06:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Democrats and Joe Biden’s supporters in particular cheered on as Republicans onstage at the first 2023 primary debate tore into each other in front of the cameras.

The president himself joined in with a clever edit of a response from former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who ripped apart several of her present rivals, as well as frontrunner Donald Trump, for their votes for legislation that resulted in debt increased while they were in office.

John Bowden reports from Washington, DC.

Biden cheered for damning three word tweet on Republican debate: ‘What she said’

Five takeaways from contentious first GOP primary debate

06:15 , John Bowden

The first Republican debate of 2023 was a brawl, as expected, but the absence of the party’s frontrunner left the remaining contenders picking targets almost at random.

And while the party will likely insist otherwise at next year’s Republican national convention, the GOP appears to be bitterly divided on a number of key issues — issues that are, for the most part, settled arguments for their counterparts on the left.

Tonight’s showdown in Wisconsin was a Trump-free event where the former president nevertheless cast a long shadow despite not actually being physically present. From questions specifically about the former president to a brash, combative performance from a businessman and political newcomer (sound familiar?), the first matchup of the 2024 Republican field was as much of a spectacle as reporters expected and for which Democrats were possibly hoping.

Let’s break down what we learned tonight:

Five takeaways from contentious first GOP primary debate

Marjorie Taylor Greene mocked for watching Trump’s Tucker interview at debate

06:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Republicans had a tough choice in what to watch on Wednesday night between the first GOP debate and Donald Trump’s interview with Tucker Carlson – but congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene had her own solution.

Ms Greene attended the Republican National Committee (RNC) debate in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to watch the eight qualified candidates hash it out on stage.

But as a loyal Trump ally, Ms Greene also brought her phone to tune into Carlson’s interview with the ex-president.

Ariana Baio has the story.

Marjorie Taylor Greene mocked for watching Trump interview during first GOP debate

05:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Full story: Republicans tear into Ramaswamy as Trump absence looms over combative first debate

05:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Anyone who thought Donald Trump’s absence from the first Republican primary debate would make for a boring time was almost certainly reconsidering that prediction by the time anchors Bret Baier and Martha McCallum called for the first commercial break after roughly half an hour on Wednesday.

Andrew Feinberg reports from the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Republicans tear into Ramaswamy as Trump absence looms over combative first debate

GOP debate divides on Trump with Christie leading attacks

05:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie attacked former president Donald Trump for the multiple legal investigations the latter faces during the first Republican presidential primary debate on Wednesday as other candidates defended the former president.

Debate moderators asked the Republican candidates for president if they would support Mr Trump were he to be convicted.

“We have to stop normalizing this conduct,” Mr Christie said.

Eric Garcia reports.

Republican debate divides on Trump with Christie leading attacks

Voices: Republican candidates fight among themselves in the Extremism Olympics

05:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Ahmed Baba writes:

The Trump clone wars just entered its first televised battle, and the candidate most of the GOP primary field is seeking to beat, and in some cases emulate, was nowhere to be seen. But his presence was certainly felt as his indicted shadow loomed over the stage. A question wasn’t asked about him for the first 60 minutes of the debate, but you could see his impact on every candidate on that stage.

Read on...

Republican candidates fight among themselves in the Extremism Olympics

Haley calls Trump ‘most disliked politician in America’

05:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley called former President Donald Trump the “most disliked politician in America” during the initial Republican primary debate in Milwaukee.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Nikki Haley calls Donald Trump ‘most disliked politician in America’

Biden calls GOP candidates ‘one united, MAGA ideology'

05:01 , Oliver O'Connell

Haley: Biden would beat Trump: ‘How sad is that'

04:53 , Oliver O'Connell

‘You have no foreign policy experience and it shows’: Haley rips into Ramaswamy

04:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Nikki Haley knows a thing or two about foreign policy, having served as a UN ambassador for two years. And she was prepared to fight political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy on his idea of foreign relations.

During the first GOP primary debate on Wednesday evening, Ms Haley passionately defended the US sending aid to Ukraine – something Mr Ramaswamy believes should not be a priority.

Ariana Baio reports.

Haley rips into Ramaswamy over lack of foreign policy experience: ‘it shows’

So, who won?

04:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what The Independent’s Eric Garcia thought:

Who won the Republican debate?

In case you were wondering...

04:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump surrogates are in the media spin room.

GOP debate: Candidates asked to tell voters how they can inspire Americans to a better day

04:12 , Oliver O'Connell

In their closing statements, the candidates are asked to tell voters how they can inspire Americans to a better day much in the same way that Ronald Reagan promised “morning in America” more than 40 years ago.

Each has 45 seconds.

Burgum talks about hard work. “Every job I had growing up was one where I took a shower at the end of the day, not at the beginning of the day...”

Hutchinson: The country is in trouble and the solution is not four more years of either Biden or Trump.

Scott: Scott uses his closing to ask for support in Iowa caucuses and points to his website for donations

Christie: The last incumbent Democrat president was beaten by a conservative governor from a blue state. I can beat Biden.

Haley: References husband’s military service and her experience as governor and UN Ambassador

Biden: I have faith we can turn this country around again in record time like we did in the Trump-Pence administration.

Ramaswamy: Finishes with a hard, rehearsed set of statements about establishing shared values that are his values.

DeSantis: We will send Biden back to his basement. I made promises and I delivered on all of those promises - 2024 is make or break, we’re not getting a mulligan, no excuses. I will get the job done and as your president, I will not let you down.

Climate change denial by candidates at GOP debate sparks horrified reaction

03:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Observers and experts were dismayed as seemingly all but one candidate onstage during the first 2024 Republican presidential primary debate seemed to deny the universal scientific consensus that human behaviour is causing the climate crisis.

Horrified reaction to climate change denial by candidates at Republican debate

GOP debate: Laughter as Christie complains at getting ‘UFO question'

03:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Martha MacCallum asks Christie: “Do you believe that the recent spike in UFO encounters... if you were president, would you level with the American people about what the government knows?”

“Come on, I get the UFO question?!?!” replies Christie to much laughter from the audience.

He manages to turn it around into an answer about the responsibilities of the president to level with the American people.

GOP debate: Lightning round

03:46 , Oliver O'Connell

Should there be a mental acuity test for presidents?

“We don’t need a President who’s too old…and we don’t need a President who’s too young,” says Pence.

“I do think we need somebody of a different generation to lead this nation,” replies Ramaswamy in another testy exchange.

“This is a lightning round, not Rolling Thunder,” Bret Baier says.

Giuliani compares his day in Georgia to 'East Berlin’

03:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Biden again responds to GOP debate: ‘What she said'

03:34 , Oliver O'Connell

GOP debate: DeSantis reiterates use of lethal force at border

03:33 , Oliver O'Connell

On the topic of securing the southern border, DeSantis reiterates his vow to use lethal force and summarily kill border crossers suspected of carrying drugs from Mexico.

"I will do it on day one," says DeSantis of sending US special forces across the border to Mexico to target drug cartels.

Hutchinson says that “the rule of law has to be on both sides”.

“We will partner with the Mexican military,” promises Pence if he becomes president.

GOP debate: Haley comes out swinging on foreign policy

03:25 , Oliver O'Connell

Haley on Ramaswamy’s Putin apologism: “You are choosing a murderer over a pro-American country ... you have no foreign policy experience and it shows.”

Ramaswamy wishes Haley “the best” in her “future career on the boards of Lockheed and Raytheon.”

Haley tells Ramaswamy a Russian win would be a victory for China. She notes that today Putin killed Prigozhin.

“When I was at the UN, the Russian ambassador suddenly died. This guy is a murderer,” she adds.

Ramaswamy tries to respond but Haley becomes the only candidate to successfully bat back his attempts.

Trump: Watch Trump brands Pence a ‘conveyor belt’ over 2020 election conspiracy

03:20 , Ariana Baio

GOP debate: Ramaswamy lone candidate who would not support funding for Ukraine

03:16 , Oliver O'Connell

On who would not support more funding for Ukraine, only Ramaswamy raises his hand.

DeSantis says he would have Europe pull its weight, and US support would be contingent on that.

Pence jabs at Ramaswamy over his Ukraine funding position, arguing if he gives Putin “his land” it is not “going to be too long for he rolls across a NATO border.”

He blasts him for not calling Putin a dictator.

Ramaswamy argues the “real threat we face today is Communist China”.

GOP debate: Did Pence do the right thing on Jan 6?

03:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Martha McCallum asks Scott: “Do you believe Mike Pence did the right thing, Senator Scott?”

“Absolutely,” he says to applause. He then pivots to the “weaponisation of the Department of Justice.”

DeSantis, once again refuses to answer a yes or no question, this time about Pence and instead says: “I know what Democrats would like to do – they want to focus on all these other issues.”

“Mike did his duty, I’ve got no beef with him,” he finally answers.

Hutchinson, who didn’t raise his hand for Trump, says: “Donald Trump was morally disqualified from being president again. as a result of what happened on January 6.”

Christie is back up and praises Pence.

“Mike Pence stood for the constitution, he deserves not grudging credit, he deserves our thanks as Americans,” Christie says. “We need to dispense with the person who said we need to suspend the Constitution for his political career.”

Haley says “I do think that Vice President Pence did the right thing and I do think that we need to give him credit for that.”

She then calls for a generational change and adds: “We have to look at the fact that three-quarters of Americans don’t want a rematch between Trump and Biden. And we have to face the fact that Trump is the most disliked politician in America.”

GOP debate: ‘The elephant not in the room’ is now being addressed

03:03 , Oliver O'Connell

Back after a break, Bret Baier asks the candidates whether they would still support Trump as the nominee (as they have pledged) if he is convicted in a court of law.

Three or four hands go up quickly, followed by DeSantis and then a maybe from Christie.

“Booing is allowed, but it doesn’t change the truth,” Christie says.

He says about Trump: “Someone needs to stop normalising this conduct.”

Ramaswamy stands in for Trump and hits back at Christie: “I’m not running for president of MSNBC, I’m running for president of the United States.”

“You make me laugh,” Christie says.

There are huge boos and Baier has to step in and calm the crowd down.

“I know a leader, you’ve never done anything ... I am not going to bow to anyone when we have a president of the United States who disrespects The Constitution,” Christie says.

He adds that Trump said “it was ok to suspend the Constitution”.

GOP debate: Questioning turns to crime and guns

02:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Questioning turns to crime and then to gun crime.

Christie says the problem is not going to be solved by more money — the problem is these prosecutors in the localities and states are refusing to do their jobs and prosecute violent crime.

Christie also goes after Hunter Biden’s lie on gun permit application and DOJ for soft handling of his case. “In a Christie administration, he would go to jail for 10 years.”

Ramaswamy says: “I think faith-based approaches can play a role here too”. He then argues that is “how we address that mental health epidemic in the next generation that is directly leading to violent crime”. He argues that the US is in need of a new national identity.

Pence replies that the country is not looking for a new national identity. The American people are the most faith-filled, freedom-loving, idealistic, hard-working people the world has ever known.

“We just need government as good as our people,” he adds.

Ramaswamy snaps back by telling Pence he’s the only candidate who was around for Reagan’s “Morning in America” speech but says “It is not Morning in America ... we’re in an eternal sort of cold cultural civil war.”

DeSantis chimes in that he is the only person on stage who has done anything about crime by going after “Soros-funded” district attorneys in Florida.

GOP debate: Christie booed by audience at first Republican debate following Trump criticism

02:48 , Oliver O'Connell

Chris Christie was targeted with a smattering of boos as he was introduced Wednesday evening during the first Republican debate.

The ex-governor of New Jersey appeared to have a few critics in the audience as his name was announced by co-moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum.

Chris Christie booed by audience at first Republican debate following Trump criticism

GOP debate: DeSantis so far avoids attacks

02:45 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump: Ex-president describes his number one priority if elected again

02:43 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump said his “number one priority” if elected president, again, would be to focus on the US’s southern border, again.

When asked by Mr Carlson what he would focus on the president kept it short and simple: “Border.”

He added: “And taking hundreds of thousands of criminals and getting them and bringing them back to their country, Guatemala.”

GOP debate: Things turn nasty as Pence and Christie taunt Ramaswamy over lack of experience

02:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The first Republican primary debate turned nasty as former Vice President Mike Pence and former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie both went after entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Mr Pence called the 38-year-old a “rookie” and said the US doesn’t have time for on-the-job training.

Republican debate turns nasty as Pence and Christie taunt Ramaswamy

Trump: Donald Trump body shams Joe Biden

02:39 , Ariana Baio

Trump: How does Trump stay positive after four criminal indictments?

02:38 , Ariana Baio

“Because I’m so high in the polls.” – Donald Trump

GOP debate: Haley asked about abortion rights

02:37 , Oliver O'Connell

Haley is asked about abortion rights and how it has been an electorally problematic issue for Republicans since the Dodd decision in the Supreme Court.

She says she is pro-life and not because the Republican Party says she should be. She wants to humanise and personalise these decisions and form consensus over the issue of abortion and work on what can be agreed on.

DeSantis declines to say if he’d sign a 6-week abortion ban as president. “I’m going to stand on the side of life,” he says, adding: “I will support the cause of life as governor and as president.”

Pence then brings up his evangelical faith on the issue and quotes from the Bible. He says he supports a 15 week ban on abortion — when a baby can “feel pain” — and this should be a federal rule.

Haley hits back that there are not enough votes in the Senate.

Burgum says “we should not have a federal abortion ban” as he pulls out a pocket Constitution and cites the 10th Amendment.

Trump: Ex-president reiterates his opinion on Pence overturning 2020 election

02:34 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump reiterated his opinion that his vice president could overturn election results in 2020.

“In my opinion, Mike Pence had the absolute right to send the votes right back to the legislatures,” Mr Trump told Tucker Carlson.

Multiple constitutional experts, government officials and Mr Pence have confirmed that the vice president has no right to overturn election results.

GOP debate: Biden chimes in on climate change

02:33 , Oliver O'Connell

GOP debate: Apparently Marjorie Taylor Greene has dueling priorities

02:32 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump: Trump brands Chris Christie a ‘savage maniac’ and ‘lunatic’ in brutal Tucker attack

02:31 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump branded his Republican rival and former associate Chris Christie a “savage maniac” and a “lunatic” in a brutal attack in his Tucker Carlson interview.

The former president immediately went on the front foot to diminish his 2024 GOP competitors singling out the former governor of New Jersey for fierce criticism.

Graeme Massie reports:

Trump brands Chris Christie a ‘savage maniac’ and ‘lunatic’ in brutal Tucker attack

GOP debate: Things get heated over climate change

02:30 , Oliver O'Connell

A show of hands question is hijacked by DeSantis: "We're not schoolchildren.”

He demands a debate.

Ramaswamy calls climate change “a hoax”.

Christie lashes out at him: “I’ve had enough already tonight” he says, comparing him to “amateur” Barack Obama and then for sounding like Chat GPT.

Ramaswamy also says he is the only one not bought and paid for which get groans from the crowd and people on stage.

Haley then jumps in: “This is exactly why Margaret Thatcher said if you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”

She adds that climate change is real, but if we want to address it China and India need to curtail emissions.

Trump: Watch Donald Trump calls Chris Christie a ‘maniac’ in Tucker Carlson interview

02:24 , Ariana Baio

GOP debate: Burgum jokes about injuring Achilles tendon

02:23 , Oliver O'Connell

Doug Burgum, the governor of North Dakota, who injured his Achilles tendon quips: “I think I took it too literally when they said go to Milwaukee and break a leg.”

GOP debate: Haley cheered for attacks on Trump while Pence jeered for job at Ramaswamy

02:22 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump: Kamala Harris ‘speaks in rhyme'

02:20 , Ariana Baio

Donald Trump took a hit at Vice President Kamala Harris saying she “speaks in rhyme.”

“She speaks in rhyme, its weird… it’s weird,” the ex-president said.

GOP debate: Pence asked about increased spending in Trump administration

02:19 , Oliver O'Connell

First question to former Vice President Mike Pence is about increased spending during the Trump administration.

Pence answers by running through a resume of the “Trump-Pence” record and gives a nod to Supreme Court nominations and Roe v Wade.

Pence hits Ramaswamy: “A president of the United States has to confront every” challenge “facing America” ... Pence engages the rising star on stage with an experience and age attack.

“Joe Biden has weakened this country at home and abroad. Now is not the time for on-the-job training. We don’t need to bring in a rookie.”

“Let me explain it to you, Vivek. ... I’ll go slowly this time.”

Trump: Tucker Carlson asks Trump about Jeffery Epstein

02:18 , Ariana Baio

Ex-Fox News host Tucker Carlson asked Donald Trump if he believed disgraced financier Jeffery Epstein died by suicide.

At first, Mr Trump responded “I don’t know” then later added “I think he probably committed suicide. He had a life with beautiful homes and beautiful everything and all of a sudden he’s incarcerated…”

Trump: Watch ex-president bash Asa Hutchinson

02:16 , Ariana Baio

GOP debate: Haley is first to attack Trump

02:16 , Oliver O'Connell

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley is the first to attack Donald Trump’s record in office and what he did to the national debt. She says it is not just Democrats but Republicans who are to blame and it is time for an accountant in the White House.

She says that while Ramaswamy is ahead in the polls: “I don’t care about polls.”

GOP debate: Ramaswamy asked about inexperience

02:14 , Oliver O'Connell

Ramaswamy begins by addressing the “question that is on everybody’s mind,” which is “Who the heck is this skinny guy with a funny last name, and what the heck is he doing in the middle of the stage?”

He touts his entrepreneurial skills as opposed to his political experience. He says he worries about the future of the American dream and that it needs an outsider to take this on.

GOP debate: Candidates asked about Bidenomics

02:11 , Oliver O'Connell

The first question is about Bidenomics and references the “Rich Men North of Richmond” song currently a favourite among conservatives.

DeSantis says: “This country is in decline ... we must reverse Bidenomics”.

“If you are working hard and you can’t afford groceries, a car, or a new home” ... while Hunter Biden makes ... “hundreds of thousands of dollars on lousy paintings”.

Christie says “we need to sell these ideas” and references his time as governor of New Jersey.

Scott begins by talking about inflation in response to a question about “sacred cow” welfare programs. He talks about sending decisions back to the states and away from Washington, DC.

Trump criticises Biden for going to the beach as president

02:10 , Ariana Baio

“The beach doesn’t represent what the president is supposed to be doing, he’s supposed to be working,” Donald Trump said during his interview with Tucker Carlson on Wednesday night.

Mr Trump criticised President Joe Biden for visiting Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, saying his vacations were a bad look.

While President, Mr Trump spent approximately 290 days of his presidency golfing.

GOP debate: Boos for Christie and Hutchinson

02:06 , Oliver O'Connell

GOP debate gets underway.

02:05 , Oliver O'Connell

Moderators Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum begin by introducing the candidates and running through some house rules.

Baier notes that the eventual nominee will accept the nomination at the same venue as tonight’s debate.

Trump bashes candidates on the GOP debate stage

02:04 , Ariana Baio

Just because Donald Trump isn’t on the debate stage tonight doesn’t mean he won’t be lashing out at his political opponents.

During his pre-recorded interview with Tucker Carlson, Mr Trump said several candidates should not be on the stage including Asa Hutchinson and Chris Christie.

Mr Trump called Mr Hutchinson “Aida” and said he is “weak” and pathetic” and questioned how he was elected Arkansas.

Turning his attention toward Chris Christie, Mr Trump called him a “lunatic” and said his polling numbers are too low to be a candidate.

Trump says joining debate was the wrong move

02:01 , Ariana Baio

Right off the bat, Donald Trump told Tucker Carlson he believes joining the debate was wrong because he is polling so far ahead

”I don’t think it’s right to do it if you’re leading 50, 60, 70 points,” Mr Trump said.

Watch Donald Trump speak with Tucker Carlson

01:57 , Ariana Baio

Who do likely GOP voters think will do best tonight?

01:55 , Oliver O'Connell

Who do likely Republican primary voters think will do best tonight? The pressure is on for Ramaswamy, DeSantis, Scott and Haley according tot a FiveThirtyEight poll conducted with The Washington Post and IPSOS.

Why Trump is a no-show at the first GOP 2024 debate

01:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Expecting a coronation and so far looking likely to get one, the former president has chosen not to attend the first Republican primary debate, Gustaf Kilander writes.

Why Donald Trump isn’t showing up to the first Republican primary debate

Five things to watch for tonight

01:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The Independent consulted with top Republican campaign veterans about what they are watching during tonight’s debate. Here are five things to keep an eye on:

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

Bookies taking bets on Trump’s weight at Georgia surrender

01:43 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump, who has sold steaks, buildings, ties, digital trading cards, and many other things with his name on them, is never someone who has missed an opportunity to make a little money, and it seems bookies are taking a similar approach to the former president’s indictment in Georgia for alleged election meddling.

Josh Marcus reports.

Bookies taking bets on Trump’s weight during Georgia surrender

Trump throws tantrum on Truth Social trying to make himself stand out

01:39 , Ariana Baio

Brit Hume went on Fox News this afternoon to offer his opinion on the Democratic Party choosing a candidate to run against the next Republican nominee.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that if we get a candidate get a clear breakout moment either here or some time in the near future, and it appears on its way to overtaking Donald Trump for the nomination or even coming close enough, the Democrats will be frantically looking for somebody else to nominate,” Mr Hume said.

“Because I think that they think that Joe Biden can beat Donald Trump because he did before. I’m not sure they believe that he could beat almost anybody else,” Mr Hume said.

Mr Trump, who is not participating in the first GOP debate tonight, took to his social media platform to lash out at Mr Hume.

“I AM LEADING BIDEN IN ALMOST ALL POLLS! LEADING REPUBLICANS BY 50 POINTS. FOX NEWS REFUSES TO POST OR DISCUSS. BRIT HUME, WORKING WITH RINO BRET BAIER, IS DELUSIONAL!!!” Mr Trump wrote.

He continued, “NO, I’M THE ONE THAT THE DEMOCRATS DON’T WANT TO RUN AGAINST. They said the same thing in 2016. How did that work out? We did MUCH better in the Rigged Election of 2020. The RINOS and DEMS are all about DISINFORMATION! @brithume @bretbaier”

In pictures: Outside the debate hall

01:39 , Oliver O'Connell

Haley rips Ramaswamy and Scott on China ahead of debate

01:30 , Oliver O'Connell

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley took a shot at two of her rivals for the Republican Party nomination ahead of tonight’s first debate.

Referring to a statement made by entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy about only helping Taiwan until 2028, Ms Haley said his comments point to a “complete lack of awareness” of the island’s conflict with mainland China.

Per Fox News:

"It shows a complete lack of awareness of the breadth of the Chinese threat," Haley initially told the Washington Post’s Josh Rogin. Her campaign later confirmed her comments to Fox News Digital. "That’s the problem with people who don’t understand national security, and he proved that. We can’t have a novice going into the White House."

Ms Haley also went after South Carolina Senator Tim Scott for his hesitancy to ban TikTok, the phone app that shares data with the Chinese government.

“We can’t have someone who is unsure about where they stand on China policy,” she said. “Banning TikTok is only the tip of the spear when it comes to defending against China.”

Watch: Marjorie Taylor Greene accuses Fox of censorship over Trump surrogates rules

01:27 , Oliver O'Connell

Doug Burgum says he’ll attend GOP debate despite basketball injury

01:22 , Oliver O'Connell

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum has said he will attend the first Republican debate after suffering an injury playing basketball with staff members.

Gustaf Kilander reports.

Doug Burgum says he’ll attend GOP debate despite basketball injury

Megan Rapinoe fires back at Trump’s ‘fake’ attack on USWNT’s World Cup loss

01:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Megan Rapinoe has fired back at Donald Trump and his “fake” criticism of the US Women’s National Soccer Team’s World Cup loss.

The squad was bounced out of the tournament in the round of 16, its earliest ever exit despite winning the last two competitions.

After the team crashed out with a 5-4 loss to Sweden on penalties, the former president took to Truth Social to blame “wokeness” and Joe Biden for the loss.

Graeme Massie reports.

Megan Rapinoe fires back at Trump’s ‘fake’ attack on USWNT’s World Cup loss

Watters: ‘One of these candidates may wind up as VP'

01:12 , Oliver O'Connell

Debate drinking game tradition resurfaces for Republican primary showdown

01:10 , Oliver O'Connell

The first debate of an election season can be a foreboding proposition given that you may suddenly realise during it that we’re all on this runaway train now until 20 January 2025 when someone will be sworn in as president.

Sounds like it could be time for a drinking game...

Drinking game tradition resurfaces for GOP primary debate

Nine down and 13 to go as Trump and codefendants start surrendering for arrest in Georgia

01:00 , Oliver O'Connell

Nearly half of the Republican operatives charged in Fulton County’s investigation into their attempts to alter the 2020 election results in Georgia have now surrendered to state authorities, been booked in jail and released on bond.

Donald Trump has yet to join them.

John Bowden reports.

9 down, 13 to go: Trump and his codefendants start surrendering for arrest in Georgia

Play along at home: Trump releases his own GOP debate bingo

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump has released his own debate bingo card ahead of the first faceoff of the 2024 GOP primary. You may find it a little focused on one candidate...

Trump mocks GOP as he announces Tucker Carlson interview will clash with debate

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:40 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what Republicans have told The Independent’s Eric Garcia that they expect from tonight’s debate.

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum: The Fox News anchors wrangling first GOP debate

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Overseeing the sparring on stage will be two season Fox News anchors, Special Report host Bret Baier and The Story host Martha MacCallum.

Who are Bret Baier and Martha MacCallum, Fox News hosts wrangling first GOP debate?

Trump says his indictments should be viewed as campaign contribution to Biden

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:18 , Oliver O'Connell

With just a short time to go before the GOP debate, former President Trump is back on Truth Social, posting: “THE INDICTMENTS AGAINST ME SHOULD BE VIEWED AS A CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION TO CROOKED JOE BIDEN AND HIS RADICAL LEFT THUGS. THIS WILL BE THEIR UPDATED FORM OF CHEATING & ELECTION INTERFERENCE. REMEMBER, THESE ARE BIDEN INDICTMENTS, PURE & SIMPLE!”

The Biden administration has gone out of its way to separate itself from and not comment on the actions of the Department of Justice, nor prosecutors in New York or Georgia.

Tucker Carlson interview: Trump addresses possible assassination and ‘open conflict’ in US

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump chose to skip the first Republican presidential debate and instead speak with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, in an interview packed with conspiratorial themes about a civil war in the US, Jeffrey Epstein, a plot by Senate Republicans against Mr Trump, and even a potential assassination attempt, according to a preview of the conversation shared online.

Josh Marcus reports.

Trump speaks of assassination and US civil war in Tucker Carlson debate interview

Christie campaign promises governor will ‘tell truth about Trump and our party'

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:08 , Oliver O'Connell

In a pre-debate memo to set expectations ahead of tonight’s Republican debate, Chris Christie’s campaign has promised that the former New Jersey governor will “tell the truth about Trump and our party” while also suggesting the other candidates are over-managed.

Spokesperson Karl Ricketts says they do not have a “war room” nor surrogates to flood the post-debate spin room, but rather: “Our full on-site surrogates list: Former Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie.”

Watch: Fauci and Trump skip merrily around outside debate venue

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Ramaswamy claims he was misquoted about 9/11 conspiracies disproven by audio

Thursday 24 August 2023 00:00 , Oliver O'Connell

With the first Republican primate debate taking place this week, the campaign of Vivek Ramaswamy, who has seen a bump in the polls in recent months, is embroiled in a scandal over what the GOP candidate believes about 9/11 and the January 6 insurrection.

Josh Marcus has the story.

Audio disproves Vivek Ramaswamy claims he was misquoted about 9/11 conspiracies

Giuliani poses for mugshot in Georgia ahead of Trump surrender in 2020 election case

Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:50 , Oliver O'Connell

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani was photographed for a mugshot in Atlanta on Wednesday, after he, Donald Trump, and 17 other associates were indicted this month in Georgia for allegedly conspiring to subvert the 2020 election results in the state.

“If they can do this to me, they can do this to you,” Mr Giuliani said outside of the Fulton County Jail on Wednesday, calling the case a “fight for our way of life” and a “travesty.”

Read on...

Rudy Giuliani poses for mugshot in Georgia ahead of Trump surrender in 2020 case

NYT under fire for publishing Ann Coulter column on the GOP debate

Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:40 , Oliver O'Connell

The New York Times has come under fire for publishing an opinion piece based on a conversation with conservative commentator Ann Coulter, just over two decades after she shared her wish that the paper’s offices be blown up.

Gustaf Kilander has the story.

New York Times under fire for publishing Ann Coulter column on the GOP debate

Watch: Tucker Carlson releases preview of Trump interview

Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:34 , Oliver O'Connell

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson has released a preview of tonight’s interview with former president Donald Trump which airs in competition to tonight’s Republican Party debate.

Watch below:

ICYMI: Kayleigh McEnany rips Trump’s decision to skip debate

Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Donald Trump‘s former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany thinks her former boss is making a “miscalculation” by choosing to skip the first GOP primary debate.

The comments came after Mr Trump made it clear in a post on Truth Social that he plans to sit out the first debate in the GOP presidential primary race, citing his position as front runner and arguing that participating would only provide his opponents the chance to sell themselves by attacking him.

Graig Graziosi reports.

Former ally Kayleigh McEnany rips Trump’s decision to skip debate

Kari Lake greets Trump supporters outside debate venue

Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump presence will be felt at debate even in his absence

Wednesday 23 August 2023 23:00 , AP

The eight contenders who are scheduled to attend the Milwaukee debate hosted by Fox News will likely face pressure to articulate how they would differ in style and substance from Trump, who holds a commanding early lead in the race. That could be a delicate task, forcing candidates to decide how closely to align themselves with the former president’s most outlandish positions, including his lies about widespread fraud during the 2020 election.

Read on...

Trump won't be at the GOP's first presidential debate. But his presence will be felt

In his new book 'The Fall,' author Michael Wolff foresees the demise of Fox News

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:45 , Oliver O'Connell

The next book from “Fire and Fury” author Michael Wolff is both a recounting of the recent past and a prediction for the near future.

Wolff’s “The Fall: The End of Fox News and the Murdoch Dynasty” will come out Sept. 26, publisher Henry Holt announced Tuesday. A spokesperson told The Associated Press that Wolff, whose previous books include “Rupert Murdoch, The Man Who Owns the News,” interviewed “people throughout the Murdoch organization, including many with direct knowledge of Murdoch and his family.”

Wolff will offer behinds-the-scenes accounts of everything from Tucker Carlson’s ousting, to Rupert Murdoch’s clashes with former President Donald Trump to tensions within the Murdoch family that mirror HBO’s “Succession.” Fox’s decline is inevitable, Wolff contends.

“I have been telling the story of the great power of Rupert Murdoch and Fox News for many years,” he said in a statement. “This power is now reaching a natural end and ‘The Fall’ brings the story to its closing act.”

Wolff is best known for “Fire and Fury,” his tell-all about the Trump administration that sold millions of copies despite allegations from some mentioned in the book that he had misquoted or misrepresented them.

Read more:

In his new book 'The Fall,' author Michael Wolff foresees the demise of Fox News

Federal court denies Meadows bid to stave off arrest

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:38 , Oliver O'Connell

A federal court judge has denied former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows’s bid to stave off arrest or immediately remove his criminal case in Fulton County to federal court.

A similar decision was made earlier in the case of Trump administration lawyer Jeff Clark.

They will both be arrested by the end of the week.

From praying after the Access Hollywood tape to condemning January 6: Everything Mike Pence has said about Trump

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:30 , Kelly Rissman

Former Vice President Mike Pence has become much more emboldened in his criticism of his former boss, Donald Trump, in recent months, but has refused to stoop to Mr Trump’s online admonishments and name-calling tactics.

Mr Pence is trying to pave a pathway back to the White House – without his name on a ballot next to Mr Trump. But it’s no secret that the former vice president isn’t polling particularly well, with just over five per cent in the polls, putting him in fourth place in a crowded GOP field.

The man who was once described as “cartoonishly loyal as Trump’s vice president” (and who once praised Trump every 12 seconds for three minutes straight during a 2017 Cabinet meeting) is now taking harsher stances and carefully distancing himself, at times, from the former president.

Mr Pence has a signature style, one that has been well curated from decades ago after losing a House race; in 1991, he vowed to avoid negative campaign attacks. This promise seemed to inform a lot of Mr Pence’s responses to significant events in which his former boss found himself in hot water. Rather than pointing fingers, the former Indiana governor tends to turn the conversation to the American public and tread diplomatically.

Read more:

Everything Mike Pence has said about Donald Trump

Former Trump and Pence staffer shares her predictions for debate

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:28 , Oliver O'Connell

Alyssa Farah Griffin, the former Trump and Pence White House staffer who has since forged a broadcast career on The View and as a commentator for CNN, has reshared her predictions for tonight’s debate. She made the original post on Sunday.

-Nikki Haley wins the night-DeSantis takes the most blows-Vivek chips away at RDS’ populist support-Tim Scott sees a boost-Christie has the most viral moments & makes progress on margins w/Trump skeptical R’s-Pence gets most applause on life/ social issues

North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum will debate after injury

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:22 , Oliver O'Connell

“Doug feels very strongly that his voice is necessary on the stage this evening, and has said he will fight through the pain and challenge standing in order to make that happen,” NBC reports his campaign as saying.

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:20 , Oliver O'Connell

Here’s what Republicans have told The Independent’s Eric Garcia that they expect from tonight’s debate.

Five things to watch during the first Republican primary debate

Trump responds to Giuliani surrender

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:10 , Oliver O'Connell

Former president Donald Trump broke a prolonged silence on social media today to briefly comment on the arrest of former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and rail against the charges against him and his allies.

He posted on Truth Social:

The greatest Mayor in the history of New York City was just ARRESTED in Atlanta, Georgia, because he fought for Election Integrity. THE ELECTION WAS RIGGED & STOLLEN. HOW SAD FOR OUR COUNTRY. MAGA!

[Yes, he misspelled stolen, again...]

What is stollen? The German cake that Donald Trump accidentally promoted

Jeff Clark to be arrested as judge denies effort to stay Fulton County proceedings

Wednesday 23 August 2023 22:02 , Oliver O'Connell

Trump administration lawyer Jeff Clark will be arrested this week regarding charges related to his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in Georgia.

A federal judge has denied his effort to stay the Fulton County proceedings and stave off his arrest while he tried to send the case to federal court.

Jenna Ellis and Sidney Powell’s booking mugshots

Wednesday 23 August 2023 21:53 , Oliver O'Connell

Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website