'Can only post childish rhetoric': Internet criticizes Donald Trump over personal digs at Republican candidates' performance during 4th GOP debate

PALM BEACH, FLORIDA: Donald Trump was not a part of the fourth Republican presidential debate in Alabama on December 6. However, that did not stop him from ranking his fellow Republican members and rival GOP candidates' performance.

Trump, who is leading the opinion polls despite his absence from the debate stage, took to his Truth Social account to mock his rivals.

"So many people are asking what I thought of history's lowest rated "presidential" debate, & how would I rate the players. It's so easy to be a critic, but who on this subject would be better than me," he wrote.

With only weeks left for the Iowa caucuses, the four candidates, Florida Gov Ron DeSantis, former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and former New Jersey Gov Chris Christie, engaged in a fierce debate.

There were also instances when candidates, especially Christie, took multiple jabs at the former President, even calling him an "angry, bitter man" and comparing him to the 'Harry Potter' villain Voldemort.

Newsweek said the fourth debate had the lowest TV audience, with only 4 million people watching.

What did Donald Trump say about his rivals' 4th GOP debate?

Trump's reaction to the GOP candidates' performance was mean and insulting.

The former President started by insulting the Florida Governor. He said, "Ron DeSanctimonious was terrible, with his bobble head facial movements & his walking on eggs."

Moving on to Christie, he wrote, "But that Sloppy Chris Christie was worse. He's not fit, mentally or physically, to be President plus, he suffers from TDS, or Trump Derangement Syndrome, at levels not seen before." He added, "In other words, he is a 'sick puppy'."

"On top of it all, his poll numbers are just 1%, in a class with 'Aida' Hutchinson," Trump wrote in reference to his nickname for former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who had also entered the GOP primary race.

Trump continued, "He's dead, but so is Ron, whose weird bobbing head and fresh mouth make his high heels look good." The 'heels' reference comes from rumors that DeSantis relies on heel lifts.

The former President called Haley a "birdbrain," saying she "looked different & lost." However, he gave her second place.

Ramaswamy was the winner, according to Trump. "Vivek WINS because he thinks l'm great," he stated on Truth Social.

Trump also did not forget to take a jab at the moderator, Megyn Kelly. Calling her the debate's "biggest loser," he added, "She has lost whatever she once had, which wasn't very much. Some things never change!"

Netizens slam Donald Trump for his comments

Many social media users were outraged over Trump's ranking of the four GOP candidates. Netizens pointed out that the former President was being a coward by not being there to compete with the others, which denied him the right to make fun of them.

One user referring to Trump's comments on Chris Christie said, "It’s sad that you’re too scared to debate in person with him and can only post childish rhetoric while not being anywhere near him. It looks so weak of you. Hard to think of you as a leader when you’re so scared."

Another user said, "Can't come in first when your afraid to debate. You would have be lit up if you were on that stage."

"Don't break your arm, former president. Don't break your arm, patting yourself on the back," one user trolled the former President.

A user stated, "All you former advisors say that YOU aren’t fit. That cannot be ignored."

"These are the comments that keep Trump from gaining most non-MAGA voters. There's no need to be mean & degrading. All he needed to say to the question was, "They're trying their best," & it would have spoken. But his unnecessary meanness is such a turnoff & is counter-productive," noted one user.

Another said, "It's like watching a 5 year old at school making up names for people who threaten him. Toddler Trump."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.