Did Trump Win Today’s GOP Debate Without Being There?

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Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy spar over TikTok at GOP debate

Republican presidential candidates Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy sparred over TikTok at the second GOP debate on Wednesday night.

Haley criticized Ramaswamy for joining TikTok, despite the app being banned on government-issued devices due to concerns about its parent company’s ties to the Chinese government.

“This is infuriating, because TikTok is one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have,” Haley said. “And … honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”

Ramaswamy defended his decision to join TikTok, arguing that it is important to reach the next generation of young Americans where they are.

“Kids under 16 shouldn’t be on ‘addictive social media,'” Ramaswamy said, but “we’re only going to ever get to declaring independence from China, which I favor, if we actually win.”

Haley, who is a former United Nations ambassador, has taken a tough stance on China in her campaign. She has said that China “will end up on the ash heap of history.”

“150 million people are on TikTok,” Haley said during the debate. “That means they can get your contacts, they can get your financial information, they can get your emails, they can get your text messages, they can get all of these things. China knows exactly what they’re doing.”

“We can’t trust you,” Haley said to Ramaswamy. “We can’t trust you. We can’t have TikTok in our kids’ lives.”

The debate between Haley and Ramaswamy is a sign of the growing divide within the Republican Party over how to deal with China. Some Republicans, like Haley, favor a more confrontational approach, while others, like Ramaswamy, believe that it is important to engage with China in order to compete.