In a bid to halt Donald Trump's momentum towards the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, five candidates gathered in Miami for the party's third debate, while the former president held a separate campaign rally across town. The debate was a platform for the candidates to express their frustrations following a series of election losses at the hands of Democrats.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who has previously contrasted his successful re-election in Florida with Republican setbacks in recent elections, voiced his dissatisfaction: "I'm sick of Republicans losing." DeSantis's campaign argued that supporting Trump had cost candidates seats in various races, including the governorship of Kentucky, where Republican Daniel Cameron lost to Democrat Andy Beshear. Republicans were also reeling from a ballot issue in Ohio that enshrined a right to abortion in the state constitution, as well as the loss of state legislative control in Virginia.

Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy directed blame towards Ronna McDaniel, the chair of the Republican National Committee, rather than Trump, for the party's recent performance. Ramaswamy lamented, "We've become a party of losers. We have to have accountability in our party." McDaniel, who was hand-picked by Trump to lead the RNC in 2017, was a sponsor of the debate. Ramaswamy's attack on McDaniel was an attempt to shift attention away from his higher-polling rivals.

During the debate, Ramaswamy also targeted former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley and DeSantis, warning that the two leading candidates on the stage could lead America into a bloody war. He even referenced speculation that DeSantis wears lifts inside his boots to appear taller. "Do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels? Because you've got two of them on stage tonight," Ramaswamy quipped, invoking the name of a bellicose Republican former vice president. Haley responded, defending herself and DeSantis, stating, "They're five-inch heels, and I don't wear them unless I can run in them. They are not a fashion statement, they are ammunition."

Ramaswamy's aggressive tactics during the debate may be attributed to his slipping poll numbers, as he is actively working to regain the attention of voters and the media. Apart from taking jabs at his opponents, he criticized debate moderator Kristen Welker from NBC, suggesting that she should not have been chosen to moderate the debate at all.

The Republican National Committee had announced earlier that five GOP presidential candidates qualified for the debate: former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, former Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and South Carolina Senator Tim Scott. The RNC's requirements were for candidates to attract 4% polling support in polls and have 70,000 unique donors.

Ronna McDaniel, the chair of the RNC, expressed enthusiasm for the debate, saying, "We are looking forward to our third debate in Miami, a welcome opportunity for our candidates to showcase our winning conservative agenda to the American people." She also highlighted the Republican Party's partnership with the Republican Jewish Coalition, a Jewish organization, for the debate, emphasizing the party's unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish community.

The debate, which was carried by NBC in collaboration with partners Salem Radio Network, the Republican Jewish Coalition, and Rumble, aired at 8 p.m. ET on NBC and was live-streamed on Rumble.