During CNN's coverage of the Republican presidential debate on Wednesday, CNN host Abby Phillip reacted to the exchange between 2024 GOP presidential candidates Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley on their records on China and donors by stating that it's unclear "what the point is of all of this and what it has to do with actual United States policy toward China. They are trying to signal toughness by saying we're going to kick China out of the United States, kick out the Confucius Institutes. It's not really linked to real policy."