presence loomed large. >> if former president trump is convicted in a court of law, would you still support him as your party's choice? please raise your hand if you would. >> reporter: then former new jersey governor chris christie speaking up. >> someone's got to stop normalizing this conduct. okay? now -- and -- now whether or not -- whether or not you believe that the criminal charges are right or wrong, the conduct is beneath the office of president of the united states. >> reporter: defending trump at every turn, biotech entrepreneur vivek ramaswamy. >> president trump, i believe, was the best president of the 21st century. it's a fact. >> reporter: the 38-year-old multimillionaire from ohio on his biggest stage yet.