Trump is "the elephant not in the room," says co-moderator Brett Baier.

Hutchinson and Christie are the two who do not raise their hands when asked if they'll still support Trump if he's convicted.

"The conduct (of Trump) is beneath the office of president of the United States," says Christie. "Booing is allowed but it doesn't change the truth.:"

The party in power is using its police force to indict its political opponents, says Ramaswamy.

Now Christie and Ramaswamy are talking over each other.

Ramaswamy trying to characterize Christie as an "MSNBC contributor."

"Absolutely he did the right thing," replies Sen. Scott when asked if Pence did the right thing on Jan. 6, 2021.

DeSantis trying to avoid answering the same question.

"I think Mike did his duty. I've got no beef with that thing," DeSantis finally exclaims under pressure.

Hutchinson, to boos, says Trump "morally disqualified" from being president again and brings up the 14th amendment. "I'm not going to support somebody who is convicted of a serious felony."

"Mike Pence stood for the Constitution," says Christie, standing next to the former VP. "He deserves our thanks as Americans."

"I do think Vice President Pence did the right thing," responds Haley. But let the American people decide whether Trump should be president again. "Trump is the most disliked politician in America. We can't win a general election that way."

"We'll give fair consideration to any pardon request" from Trump if he becomes president, says Pence, noting there would have to be contrition.

"No one is above the law," says Pence of Trump. "I chose the Constitution and I always will."

"I would not" support an increase of funding to #Ukraine, declares Ramaswamy. "The Russia-China alliance is the single greatest threat we face."

"If we don't stand up against this type of autocratic killing in the world, we will be next," says Christie of Putin's war on #Ukraine.

Pence also makes a vehement defense of supporting Ukraine, tangling again with Ramaswamy.

"He is a dictator and a murderer," adds Pence of Putin and chastises his former boss, Trump, for admiring the Russian president.

"Ukraine is not a priority for the United States of America," says Ramaswamy. "You cannot start another no-win war."

#Ukraine is "a pro-American country that was invaded by a thug," says Haley. "A win for Russia is a win for China. Ukraine is the first line of defense for us."

"You are choosing a murderer over a pro-American country," Haley tells Ramaswamy.

"You have no foreign policy experience and it shows," adds Haley, a former US ambassador to the UN.

"I am not going to send troops to Ukraine but I am going to send them to our southern border," says DeSantis.

"I will do it on day one," says DeSantis of sending US special forces across the border to #Mexico to target drug cartels.

"We will partner with the Mexican military," promises Pence if he becomes president.

"The Chinese are engaging in a war against us" by sending #fentanyl to the drug cartels, says Christie.

"Let's teach our kids to build things again," says Haley during a round of questioning about #education.

We're now in the 30-second "lightning round" of answers.

"We don't need a president who is too old (Trump and Biden) and we do not need a president who is too young (Ramaswamy)," says Pence.

"I do think we need somebody of a different generation to lead this nation," replies Ramaswamy.

US Department of Education getting attacked by the Republican candidates more than any government agency, except for perhaps DoJ.

Sen. Scott says "we have to break the backs of the teachers' unions."

"I get the UFO question?" says Christie halfway into the question.

Closing arguments coming up as this first debate begins to wind down.

Country is in trouble and the solution is not four more years of either Biden or Trump, says Hutchinson in his closing statement.

"If God made you a man you play sports -- against men," says Scott in his closest statement.

"Beating a Democratic incumbent is not easy," says Christie, noting the last time it happened it was by a Republican governor in a blue state. "I'm the one who can win this race if you give me the chance."

"I will beat Joe Biden and he knows that," says Haley in her closing remarks.

"Joe Biden has weakened America at home and abroad," says Pence in his closing statement. "Different times call for different leadership."

"Fossil fuels are a requirement for human prosperity," says Ramaswamy in his parting comment, talking about "winning the revolution of 2024."