Trump isn’t at the debate, but he’s very clearly on candidates’ minds, with the former president getting direct attacks from Christie, DeSantis, and others for not being present. (Christie’s unforgettable line: “You’re ducking these things... We’re going to call you Donald Duck.”)

But with the opening of the debate so focused on labor and the autoworkers strike, Trump’s campaign is using that ducking as a bragging point, boasting about the fact that Trump is the only one out with autoworkers tonight.

"Amazing that the first question of the debate is about the UAW strike …at this moment where is @realDonaldTrump? He’s in Michigan …talking to striking workers," senior Trump campaign adviser Chris LaCivita wrote on X.

However, as ABC News has previously reported, the place Trump spoke at tonight is one of the few non-union auto-parts plants in Michigan, according to AFL-CIO, and very few of those who came to see Trump in Clinton Township, Michigan, Wednesday evening that ABC News spoke with were on actually on strike.

There are a lot of factors at play over this: Trump’s power in being part of the debate narrative while absent, ongoing labor strikes, and where Republicans show solidarity with labor (and the optics of how they do so). And then candidates like Christie add some nicknames to the mix.

-ABC News’ Soorin Kim, Lalee Ibssa, and Oren Oppenheim

Ramaswamy was asked about whether parents have the right to know about children’s identification in schools. According to a Selzer & Co./Grinnell College poll conducted in March, 71 percent of Republicans say it’s “very important” for a teacher to notify parents if a middle school student has adopted a gender identity different from the one assigned to them at birth.
—Analysis by 538

DeSantis is asked about the Florida education guidelines on teaching slavery. He immediately calls it a hoax and attacks Vice President Kamala Harris (America's first Black vice president), which has been his campaign's strategy on this issue since it first broke. The moderators are quick to tee up a discussion between DeSantis and Scott, though, since the South Carolina senator was among the most outspoken Republicans against the DeSantis plan.
-Jacob Rubashkin, 538 contributor

Moderators questioned Haley on "school choice." Seven Republican states, including Florida, passed "universal school choice" this year, which mostly means vouchers for private schools that are available to nearly all students, without income limits. Public school supporters have said these vouchers are a backdoor way of defunding public schools. In most states, states take the per-pupil allocation of tax dollars and give the money directly to parents instead, allowing them to pay for private, religious, or homeschooling courses. In many states the vouchers could go to parents who could otherwise pay for private school, and aren't enough to pay for full tuition for parents who couldn't afford it. The public is divided on these policies, but trust in public schools and public education has been declining, especially among Republicans.
— Analysis by Monica Potts of 538

At several points during the second hour of the debate, it got particularly heated between former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and someone she appointed to the U.S. Senate in 2013: Tim Scott.

Haley first went after Scott for not completing what he touted as his economic policy accomplishments.

“I appreciate him. We've known each other a long time. But he's been there 12 years and he hasn't done any of that. He has, they've only given four audits on time,” she said.

Then came a heated back-and-forth before Haley repeated, “Twelve years, where have you been? ... Bring it, Tim.”

The two also fought over Haley’s gas tax in South Carolina.

“​​I would love to finish my conversation with Nikki as it relates to the job that needs to get done. Nikki offered a 10-cent gas tax increase in South Carolina. Talk about someone who has never seen a federal dollar,” Scott said.

Haley then told Scott to do his homework regarding the spending and gas tax in South Carolina. He responded, “just go to YouTube.”

Haley ended the exchange by telling Scott that he was “scrapping right now” (as in scrambling).

“You are scrapping right now, you are scrapping. You know, I fought taxes, I cut taxes, I took care of South Carolina and you know it.”

They then got into a rift over a set of over $50,000 customized curtains for the State Department in the official residence of the ambassador to the United Nations. Haley was the first to live in the new residence.

–ABC News’ Abby Cruz, Gabriella Abdul-Hakim and Isabella Murray