Republican Presidential Debate 2016 Live Updates: Best Twitter Reactions, Memes And Analysis As It Happens
When Republican candidates take the main stage for Tuesday night's presidential debate, there will be a slightly smaller group preparing to face off. Thanks to the criteria set by Fox Business Network, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, were relegated to the undercard debate, leaving eight candidates in the prime-time showdown. This will be the first GOP debate with fewer than 10 candidates onstage, which could cut down on some of the chaos and give them a bit more time to make their case.
This last point is especially important to some candidates, many of whom vocally criticized CNBC after the third Republican debate for what they saw as unfair questions and not enough time to talk. This time, Fox Business moderators have made a point to say they will be aiming to host a more policy-driven debate, so candidates may not be able to blame the "liberal media" for questions they do not like.
Front-runners Donald Trump and Ben Carson will still take center stage during the main debate, but attention will likely be spread around as several candidates have come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks. After seeing his version of his personal history questioned over the past week, Carson will want to prove he can stand up under pressure, while Florida Sen. Marco Rubio will try to use this debate to capitalize on his recent rise in popularity. Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are also expected to attack their fellow candidates as they try to gain attention Tuesday night.
#GOPDebate goes over time. Every tweet is now: #YRNF #YRWatchParty pic.twitter.com/4Wj0BexaZd
— Young Republicans (@yrnf) November 11, 2015Carly Fiorina could not beat Barbara Boxer. How can she beat Hillary Clinton? #GOPDebate
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) November 11, 2015Fiorina just Bob Doled'd it. #GOPDebate #foxbusinessdebate
— Joel Nihlean (@JoelNihlean) November 11, 2015Imagine a Clinton presidency. Satan will rise up. Grumpy Cat will kill us all. Crops will burn. The streets will run red... #GOPDebate
— Rex Huppke (@RexHuppke) November 11, 2015A CLIMATE QUESTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111!!1! #GOPDebate
— Climate Desk (@ClimateDesk) November 11, 2015Marco Rubio wants a party of the 21st century, eh? #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/0yQ9kbnlR7
— TouchVision (@TouchVisionTV) November 11, 2015Rubio is driven to laughter by how soft the question he just got is. (Basically, Hillary Clinton is a creature of DC--problem?) #GOPDebate
— Amy Davidson (@tnyCloseRead) November 11, 2015
So... Can we talk about that ad that just ran during the #GOPDebate where I look like a Commie dictator?
— Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) November 11, 2015#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/sgX3fvXWNk
— Greg Bennett (@GreggyBennett) November 11, 2015Psssst
Psssssssssst....
(None of these candidates understand banking)
— Nick Toussaint (@Nick_NoHeart) November 11, 2015did Ben Carson just say that the U.S. was most powerful economy in the world in 1876? Like, during the height of the British empire?
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) November 11, 2015
Marco Rubio made a Candy Crush reference finally answering the question of why he's never at work.
#GOPDebate
— Ham on Wry (@realHamOnWry) November 11, 2015
Someone tell me why @pitbull is a moderator on this @FoxBusiness debate? #GOPDebate
— NEIL SLOANE (@postsloane) November 11, 2015Kasich's lack of familiarity with technology was truly a zoolander moment. The files are IN the computer?#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/ofa5OT1avf
— Crowdpac (@Crowdpac) November 11, 2015
Courtesy @NateSilver538's amazing Photoshop skills: https://t.co/t6d0NbSxyw #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/GUEvUlFifj
— FiveThirtyEight (@FiveThirtyEight) November 11, 2015
Putin to everyone on this #GOPDebate stage rn pic.twitter.com/E1AAVOQn4c
— Polly Mosendz (@polly) November 11, 2015Carly Fiorina after Trump asks why she keeps interrupting. #GOPDebate #RadioTalksGOP pic.twitter.com/4GGWSdr2On
— The Takeaway (@TheTakeaway) November 11, 2015
Carly knows the names of a lot of Arab countries. #GOPDebate
— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) November 11, 2015Carly Fiorina and Putin to Trump. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/q4M19rHEuZ
— Elizabeth Plank (@feministabulous) November 11, 2015I think Jeb Bush just forgot the word "Muslim" ("moderate Islamist"?) #GOPDebate
— Claire Phipps (@Claire_Phipps) November 11, 2015
Ben Carson's easy fix on crisis in Syria/Afghanistan/Iraq: make ISIS look like losers #GOPDebate #OMGOP pic.twitter.com/lZs1BThS2P
— Tennessee Democrats (@tndp) November 11, 2015
Regardless of which candidates stand out, Twitter will be alive with commentary and quick reactions to the candidates' policy arguments and gaffes alike. Here are some of the best jokes, memes and comments from the Twittersphere during tonight's undercard and main stage debates.
Is it me or do @realDonaldTrump and Curious George have the same haircut? #RepublicanDebate pic.twitter.com/hpRiJoDYP3
— Alec Holland (@TheTrueDocLove) November 11, 2015
5 agencies that Cruz would eliminate:
1. IRS
2. Dept. of Commerce
3. Dept of Energy
4. Uh
5. HUD
#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/pMVT0vVv2c
— Mic (@micnews) November 11, 2015According to equal time rules, the other candidates must now get 60 seconds to speak with patriotic music playing behind them
— Daniel Victor (@bydanielvictor) November 11, 2015
Print guy not understanding/caring about commercial breaks LOL. #GOPdebate
— Ben Brasch (@ben_brasch) November 11, 2015
how long until @RandPaul pen gets its own twitter handle? #GOPDebate
— Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) November 11, 2015
Jeb said "Reagan Love" and my whole bingo card magically filled itself up. #GOPDebate
— Elisha Fieldstadt (@Eli_Fieldstadt) November 11, 2015
I had no clue we had two Departments of Commerce, #TedCruz . Makes sense to shut them down. #RepublicanDebate
— Oliver Tonkin (@TheBrutalWolf) November 11, 2015
Only the pure force of talking points can defeat the game show beeper
— daveweigel (@daveweigel) November 11, 2015I think Rand Paul should have stood out tonight by wearing a turtleneck. #GOPDebate
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) November 11, 2015
in the arrrmmmmmsss of @JebBush
https://t.co/pRW6h9j6kN
#GOPDebate
— Jon-Michael Poff (@JMPoff) November 11, 2015Repeal and replace #Obamacare? Ok.
But what's the alternative?
#GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/7gHQ3loyEf
— Brandon Gates (@TheBGates) November 11, 2015
I'm waiting for the attack ads: "If 'x' can't count to 90 seconds, can we trust them to lead the country." #GOPDebate #IgnoreTheBell
— Marshall Zelinger (@7Marshall) November 11, 2015During the #GOPdebate, the @HillaryClinton campaign is giving out superlative "awards" https://t.co/yAQOj6t2xY pic.twitter.com/4VSe0EoSG9
— Intl. Business Times (@IBTimes) November 11, 2015"DON'T CALL ME OUT ON MY BIGOTRY. IT'S OFFENSIVE!!!"
*THUNDEROUS APPLAUSE*
#GOPDebate
— Calvin (@aurosan) November 11, 2015
We actually are doing high-fives right now. #GOPDebate
— Brian Fallon (@brianefallon) November 11, 2015
Yeah, yeah, yeah but what's in YOUR wallet?! #Rubio #GOPDebate
— Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) November 11, 2015
Cruz: I am against killing grandmothers. In theory. #GOPDebate
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) November 11, 2015IF YOU THINK WALLS DON’T WORK ASK GERMANY. Oh, wait. That’s not right. #RepublicanDebate #Trump
— Trisha Leigh (@trishaleighKC) November 11, 2015
Maria Bartiromo's brooch is so big she could survive getting stabbed by Dr. Ben Carson. #RepublicanDebate pic.twitter.com/SxaOcZG5GM
— Miki Yamashita (@Miki410) November 11, 2015I wish Marco Rubio would just tell us what his parents did for a living already. What is he hiding?
— Michael Schulman (@MJSchulman) November 11, 2015
Shorter @JebBush: We must repeal both clean air AND clean water. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/U4pJ3bZ1Gx
— Sierra Club (@sierraclub) November 11, 2015
Do you think Joseph A. Banks has any red ties left?!?!!?? #GOPdebate
— Michelle Collins (@michcoll) November 11, 2015
All of Jeb's economic statistics on employment are correct. I'm sort of in shock.
— Heidi N Moore (@moorehn) November 11, 2015"I'm thirty three! THIRTY THREE, goddamit! I had a bad night's sleep!" -- the woman that Carly is taking about right now. #GOPDebate
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) November 11, 2015
Jeb subtext: "My mom said I have to speak up more."
#GOPDebate
— Emerson Collins (@ActuallyEmerson) November 11, 2015'We need more welders and less philosophers' says Rubio on #GOPDebate . Maybe a few more English teachers too?
— emily bell (@emilybell) November 11, 2015Is Rubio reading into a mirror? What is happening? #GOPDebate
— deray mckesson (@deray) November 11, 2015Neil Cavuto's tie is _ and he said the word "august" correctly in context. He wins the debate
— Wesley Lowery (@WesleyLowery) November 11, 2015
WAGES are TOO DAMN HIGH #GOPDebate
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) November 11, 2015Jeb Bush looked like he was bracing for boos and rotting fruit.
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) November 11, 2015Source in room texts: "Way louder applause for Rubio than anyone else. Not sure if that was apparent on tv"
— Zeke Miller (@ZekeJMiller) November 11, 2015Ted Cruz just looked like someone you *would* want to have a beer with.
— Huffington Post (@HuffingtonPost) November 11, 2015This pre-debate video is like an intro to the Hunger Games.. #gopdebate
— Ali Vitali (@alivitali) November 11, 2015
Lindsey Graham throwing some shade #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/vwH0lCrSep
— Nicky Woolf (@NickyWoolf) November 11, 2015Reince Priebus givin his best Pit Bull hype man impression rn #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/1PhoM5fF5i
— TouchVision (@TouchVisionTV) November 11, 2015No excuse not to tune in to the #GOPDebate on @FoxBusiness now! https://t.co/BwYOjuOKbd
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) November 11, 2015How many times are the Fox Business personalities going to pat themselves on the back? #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/2pAToh8DWo
— Brandon Gates (@TheBGates) November 11, 2015Huckabee's closing statement. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/1IXrvFZayr
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) November 11, 2015Commander-in-chief is not an entry level job! #GOPDebate
— Rick Santorum (@RickSantorum) November 11, 2015Rick Santorum, seen here possibly conducting an orchestra. #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/tUs2uxpqSS
— Daily Dot Politics (@DotPolitics) November 11, 2015Nothing attracts undecided voters like an unhappy marriage #GOPDebate
— Aaron Sankin (@ASankin) November 11, 2015Root canal. Juice box. Toilet. Not on #GOPDebate bingo cards
— Heather Haddon (@heatherhaddon) November 11, 2015Did Rick Santorum just take a jab at black fathers on the low? _ _ #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/RxwrvCdumh
— Brandon Gates (@TheBGates) November 11, 2015Debate winners:
1) Juicebox
2) Santorum’s larynx
3) Jindal’s memory
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) November 11, 2015The #gopdebate bell reminds me of the dreaded bell from my 8th grade spelling bee.
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) November 11, 2015Rick Santorum scaring small children. https://t.co/TgamHmi6mr
— Andrew Kaczynski (@BuzzFeedAndrew) November 11, 2015Winner of the undercard debate: Lindsey Graham, because he didn't have to endure it.
— Scott Bixby (@scottbix) November 11, 2015Q: Name a Democrat you like? Jindal: Liberal media bias.
Huckabee: Veterans Day
Christie: Cops are under attack.
Santorum: LOUD NOISES
— Sabrina Siddiqui (@SabrinaSiddiqui) November 11, 2015Santorum, just now https://t.co/9jIJPuUdIO #GOPDebate
— Vince Coglianese (@TheDCVince) November 11, 2015#GOPDebate: Time to freshen up on which 2016 candidates are on what social media platform https://t.co/lEjXcFT2mh pic.twitter.com/Ceg8RmuZJv
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) November 11, 2015The real question is: What flavor juice box? #GOPDebate
— Nahal Toosi (@nahaltoosi) November 11, 2015A juice box? Are juice boxes bad? #GOPDebate
— gwen ifill (@gwenifill) November 11, 2015New pre-debate ritual: Bocce ball. pic.twitter.com/J1aRyy5KuT
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) November 11, 2015Huckabee Against Free Sandwiches
— Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) November 11, 2015Christie is not intending to, but he's auditioning well tonight to be someone's VP next yr and the lead GOP attack dog against HRC.
— James Hohmann (@jameshohmann) November 11, 2015Moderator to @BobbyJindal: "You're doing well on the state level..."
Bobby Jindal: "Awh, first people to tell me that!" #GOPDebate #lapol
— CJ Pearson (@thecjpearson) November 11, 2015Distinguishing characteristic of debate so far: No follow up q’s – even when there’s an obvious opening for one. #GOPDebate
— David Lauter (@DavidLauter) November 11, 2015So when Jindal says "we're on the path to socialism," does that mean Obama isn't actually a socialist? #GOPDebate
— Zach Carter (@zachdcarter) November 11, 2015
The bell's great, but it is very Richard Dawson Family Feud.
— Katherine Miller (@katherinemiller) November 11, 2015
Area Man Finally Finds Fox Business Channel
— Matt Ford (@fordm) November 10, 2015
.@NRA running ads ahead of Fox Business #GOPDebate linking risk of Islamic terror and Second Amendment rights.
— Heidi Przybyla (@HeidiPrzybyla) November 10, 2015
Be sure to download @sidewireinc app for @LindseyGrahamSC's hot takes during tonight's #GOPDebate: https://t.co/Om12l7V5W5
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) November 10, 2015
Tonight's drinking phrases are: "SNL," "credit card debt," "safe spaces" and, for the lone Kasich fan, "Ohio." #GOPDebate @93wibc
— Tony Katz (@tonykatz) November 10, 2015
Media forced to type 'StopHillary' for Wi-Fi access at #GOPdebate: https://t.co/arjZxTk72j pic.twitter.com/biCl3EVQS3
— The Hill (@thehill) November 10, 2015
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