"Trump's Absence Dominates Republican Debate as DeSantis Calls Him Out"

During the second Republican presidential debate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis criticized Donald Trump for skipping the event, calling him "missing in action" and stating that he owed it to the audience to defend his record. Other candidates, including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Vice President Mike Pence, also took jabs at Trump for his absence. The debate focused on immigration, with candidates vowing to take a hard line and criticizing the Biden administration's handling of the migrant crisis. Trump's rivals are running out of time to alter the dynamics of the race, as he continues to dominate the polls.