"Chris Christie Criticizes Rivals for Avoiding Confrontation with Donald Trump"

In the Republican debate, Chris Christie criticized his rivals for not taking on Donald Trump, accusing them of making excuses for his conduct and empowering him. The moderators asked more questions about Trump, and the debate ended with each candidate revealing which previous president inspired them. NewsNation's moderators directed more specific questions to each candidate, but at times lost control of the candidates. Christie also defended Nikki Haley against attacks from Vivek Ramaswamy, who called her corrupt. The debate focused on various issues, including Haley's proposal for social media verification and Trump's lead in the polls.