"Republican Presidential Hopefuls Face Off in Trump's Absence"

Seven Republican presidential candidates, excluding former President Donald Trump, are participating in a debate as they vie to become the main challenger to Trump for the party's 2024 presidential nomination. Trump, who holds a significant lead in the polls, is snubbing the debate and instead holding a political rally in Michigan. His opponents, including Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, and Mike Pence, are struggling to gain traction against Trump's overwhelming support among Republican voters. The debate takes place as Trump faces four criminal indictments related to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election and retain classified documents.