If you missed Saturday night’s Republican debate, you missed the absolute strangest minutes of the entire 2016 election.
The introduction of the candidates hit a inexplicable pile up when Ben Carson stood in the wings while other candidates walked by him. It took at least three separate introductions to get Carson on the stage. Donald Trump, who was stalled behind Carson, took roughly four introductions to get on stage.
If you think you’re confused right now, just watch how the candidates reacted:
Most screwed up debate opener ever. Carson just stood there. Candidates had no idea what to do #ABCReally?
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) February 7, 2016
Laughter could be heard in the hall, in the media room, and online. But the palpable awkwardness in the room led to another weird turn: The debate moderators forgot to invite Ohio Gov. John Kasich on the stage.
Marco Rubio had to remind the anchors to bring out Gov. John Kasich. Embarrassing.
— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) February 7, 2016
What is going on here ? #GOPDebate pic.twitter.com/PtXzvXtm09
— Samantha-Jo Roth (@SamanthaJoRoth) February 7, 2016
Ben Carson isn't quite sure when to take the stage #GOPdebate https://t.co/SLpGiX7UtV
— Mashable News (@MashableNews) February 7, 2016
https://twitter.com/JaxAlemany/status/696140931997761536
Holy shit. what a bigger disaster since the Towering Inferno, and it's only a minute old.
— GregGutfeld (@greggutfeld) February 7, 2016
Wow! what a start. that was awkward. Yikes.
— Bret Baier (@BretBaier) February 7, 2016
Photo via Marc Nozell/Flickr (CC by 2.0) | Remix by Max Fleishman