Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley deflected a question on Sunday about whether she would support Donald Trump if he were to secure the GOP nomination once more. This refusal to pledge allegiance to the former president is part of Haley’s ongoing criticism of Trump as she intensifies her campaign leading up to her home state’s primary.
During her appearance on ABC’s “This Week,” former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador emphasized her primary goal of defeating Trump in the Republican primary.
“I am running against him because I believe he is unfit to be president,” she stated firmly. “My focus is not on determining who I will support, but rather on strategizing how we can secure victory in this race.”
Haley remained vague when Karl attempted to get a definite answer from her.
“I plan on running and emerging victorious, and all of you can discuss support at a later time. At this moment, I encourage you to inquire whether he intends to back me as the nominee,” she confidently declared.
Former South Carolina governor and high-profile Republican, Nikki Haley, has undergone a notable shift in her stance towards former President Donald Trump. While she previously stated that she would support Trump if he won the crowded primary, her recent remarks suggest a change in rhetoric. While not a complete reversal, this shift signals a change in Haley’s perspective.
“I would support him because I am not going to have a President Kamala Harris. We can’t afford that. That is not going to happen,” she stated on CNBC in July 2023. At the first GOP debate in August, Haley was among the contenders who raised their hands to indicate their support for Trump (who was not present at the debate) if he became the nominee after the primary process. Despite intensifying her criticism of Trump throughout the campaign, she has not explicitly changed her stance on this issue.
As she criticizes the Biden administration on various issues, her critiques of her Republican opponent have become even more relentless.
In a candid interview with Karl, Haley didn’t hold back in her critique of President Joe Biden’s handling of the current global situation. However, she also didn’t shy away from expressing her concerns about former President Trump. Specifically, she took issue with his recent comments that appeared to undermine the NATO alliance. Furthermore, she questioned his decision to populate the leadership of the Republican National Committee with individuals closely aligned with him, including his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.
In a conversation with Karl, Haley emphasized that this should serve as a wake-up call for Republicans nationwide. She pointed out that the campaign reports revealed the misuse of $50 million in campaign contributions for personal court cases. Furthermore, she highlighted the audacity of attempting to have the RNC declare him the presumptive nominee, stating that America does not crown kings.
The upcoming Republican primary will take place in South Carolina, which happens to be Haley’s home state. The date for this primary is set for February 24th.
During Sunday’s interview, Haley revisited some of her most prominent criticisms of the former president. She focused on Trump’s remarks, or lack thereof, regarding Russian President Vladimir Putin. The recent unexpected death of Putin’s adversary, Alexei Navalny, has led many to speculate that it was ordered by Putin himself.
“We must constantly remind the American people that Vladimir Putin is not our friend,” she emphasized. “We cannot consider Vladimir Putin as someone cool or someone we should associate with. He is not someone we should be friends with or trust. It is truly alarming to hear Donald Trump suggest in South Carolina last week that he would support Putin’s invasion of our allies if they were not fulfilling their obligations. In that moment, all he did was give more power to Putin.”
Furthermore, she pointed out that there has been no mention of Navalny’s death from Trump.
“He either supports Putin and finds it acceptable that Putin assassinated one of his political rivals, or he simply doesn’t consider it to be a significant issue. Both possibilities are worrisome. Both possibilities present a problem,” she expressed her concerns.
During a Fox News town hall in South Carolina, she continued to press the issue of Navalny’s poisoning. She posed the question directly, asking if Donald Trump believed that Putin was responsible for the attack on Navalny.
Haley, along with most of the GOP field, refrained from directly criticizing Trump during the initial stages of the primary race. Instead, they directed their attention towards Biden or engaged in arguments amongst themselves, all the while Trump’s popularity continued to rise.
But with only her and Trump remaining from the pool of well-known candidates, Haley has intensified her efforts to take advantage of Trump’s behavior and legal troubles.
In a recent post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Haley expressed her thoughts on Donald Trump’s legal situation. She highlighted that Trump is currently facing a court hearing and is awaiting a verdict in another case. Additionally, he has a trial scheduled to begin on March 25. Haley also pointed out that Trump is utilizing a significant portion of his campaign donations to cover legal fees. She believes that the ongoing chaos surrounding these legal matters will ultimately result in more losses for Republicans across the board.
In a new advertisement released on Tuesday, Haley’s campaign emphasizes the potential for “chaos” that could arise if he were to be re-elected as president. Furthermore, Haley reiterates this point during an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, stating that an unpredictable and unstable president poses a significant threat to the safety and well-being of the nation.
Haley has criticized Trump for his age. She slammed him for mistaking her for Democratic Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi. She even trolled him and Biden with a clever billboard campaign. The campaign featured clips of the two candidates trailing off and looking confused during recent public remarks.
During a speech to his supporters, Trump made a concerning statement about encouraging Russia to attack NATO allies who didn’t meet defense spending requirements. In response, Haley swiftly voiced her disapproval, emphasizing the importance of NATO’s success over the past 75 years. She expressed her concern about taking the side of a leader like Putin, who has been involved in acts of aggression and caused immense harm to innocent people. Haley’s strong stance against supporting such individuals was evident in her remarks last week.
In a move to strengthen his control over the Republican National Committee’s fundraising efforts, former President Trump has thrown his support behind two trusted allies: Lara Trump and senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita. This endorsement by Trump has prompted Nikki Haley to draw attention to the mounting legal expenses that he is facing. Haley suggests that the endorsement is an attempt by Trump to gain a tighter grip on the party’s fundraising apparatus, potentially to help cover his legal bills.
In an interview with CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Friday, Haley expressed her concern about the Republican National Committee (RNC) being used as a source of funding for personal court cases. She highlighted the fact that Trump had already spent $50 million of campaign contributions on his legal battles, emphasizing her opposition to this practice.
Haley’s campaign has not seen any significant progress on the ballot, as the recent Nevada primary dealt her a harsh blow. The option for “none of these candidates” received the majority of votes, although it is important to note that this primary would not have awarded any delegates to her regardless.
These actions also pose a risk of alienating Trump and potentially damaging Haley’s prospects within the modern Republican Party.
Haley’s campaign has cleverly acknowledged the potential consequences of being targeted by Trump: They are selling shirts that humorously bear the phrase “barred permanently,” inspired by a Trump Truth Social post. In the post, the former president cautioned Haley’s donors that they would be “permanently barred from the MAGA camp.”
