Ron DeSantis and Chris Christie Debate Former President Trump’s Role in the Capitol Attack on January 6, 2021

On Tuesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was asked by a high school student during a campaign event in New Hampshire whether former President Donald Trump “violated the peaceful transfer of power” on Jan. 6, 2021, by seeking to overturn his loss in the most recent presidential election. DeSantis avoided giving a direct answer, saying only that he “didn’t enjoy” seeing what happened at the Capitol.

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, a 2024 GOP presidential rival of DeSantis, criticized the Florida governor for his response. “It’s not a difficult question. It’s a yes or no question,” Christie said. “You either think the former president violated the peaceful transfer of power or you don’t.”

DeSantis responded to Christie’s criticism on Wednesday, saying, “I wasn’t anywhere near Washington that day. I have nothing to do with what happened that day.” He further clarified that the 2024 election was “about Biden’s failures” and urged against “relitigating things that happened two, three years ago.”

The incident highlights the ongoing tension between the two Republican candidates as they both seek the 2024 presidential nomination. DeSantis and Christie have both been vocal critics of President Biden’s policies and have been actively campaigning in early primary states such as New Hampshire.

The high school student’s question to DeSantis has sparked a debate among Republican voters about the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and the role of former President Trump in the attack on the Capitol. It remains to be seen how the incident will affect the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.