'Missing in action': DeSantis comes out swinging at Trump in second debate

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took a potshot at former President Donald Trump coming into the second Republican presidential debate at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California — one of his bluntest attacks on his one-time ally turned rival to date.

"Joe Biden is missing in action... and do you know who else is missing in action? Donald Trump," said DeSantis. "He should be on this stage tonight."

"He owes it to you to defend his record where they added 7.8 trillion to the debt," DeSantis added.

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For months, DeSantis and Trump were shaping up to be the top two rivals for the 2024 presidential nomination. Although DeSantis is still just barely clinging to second place in the polling average, Trump has run away with the GOP electorate, leading DeSantis by over 40 points and his other challengers by even more.

Trump declined to participate in either this debate or the first GOP debate in Milwaukee in summer. He instead tried to pre-empt the debate with an autoworkers rally at a non-union auto parts plant in Clinton Township, Michigan.

That event took place just a day after Biden joined the picket line of striking United Auto Workers in Detroit, although Trump's event had been scheduled before that.

Biden, however, chimed in on DeSantis' comments about Trump. "Couldn't agree more," he said.