Republicans target absent Trump, hurl insults at sometimes chaotic presidential debate

Donald Trump's rivals laid into him repeatedly during the second presidential debate on Wednesday, ripping the former president for skipping the event as they sought to blunt the momentum that has seen him build a commanding early lead in the Republican primary.

"He should be on this stage tonight," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has recently struggled to emerge as the field's top Trump alternative. "He owes it to you to defend his record where they added $7.8 trillion to the debt. That set the stage for the inflation we have now."

Seven Republican candidates debated at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, Calif., often speaking or yelling over each other, while Trump was giving a speech in Michigan, attempting to capitalize on the Auto Workers Union strike and appeal to rank-and-file union members in a key state. 

DeSantis's criticism came shortly after a similar attack from former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, who said Trump "hides behind the walls of his golf clubs" instead of answering questions. He later got in another dig as he broke out a new nickname for Trump. 

Speaking into the camera, Christie said, "I know you're watching," because "you can't help yourself." And he accused Trump of being absent because "you're afraid of being on this stage and defending your record.

"No one up here is going to call you Donald Trump anymore. We're going to call you Donald Duck."

Former U.S. vice-president Mike Pence called Trump "my former running mate."

The debate came at a critical moment in the campaign, with less than four months before the Iowa caucuses formally launch the presidential nomination process.

Trump is dominating the field, even as he faces a range of vulnerabilities, including four criminal indictments that raise the prospect of decades in prison.

Trump himself made only a passing mention of the debate during his speech, drawing boos when he said, "We're competing with the job candidates" and poking fun at them for not drawing crowds as large as his. The former president's competitors are running out of time to dent his lead, which is building a sense of urgency among some to more directly take on the former president before an audience of millions.

As they did in last month's debut debate, Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy had a split-screen sparring back-and-forth in which Haley went after the political newcomer for inexperience and, she alleged, dangerous ideas.

Asked about his recent conversation with a TikTok influencer, Ramaswamy defended his use of the platform.

"I'm the new guy here, and so I know I have to earn your trust," Ramaswamy said. "I'm here to tell you, no, I don't know at all. I will listen."

Interjecting by calling TikTok "dangerous," Haley went on to address Ramaswamy directly — and personally.