Former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley Takes Center Stage at Republican Presidential Debate
In a fiery display of conviction and leadership, former U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley captivated the audience during the first Republican presidential debate. With her unwavering stance on critical issues, she fearlessly called out her fellow Republicans for high inflation and staunchly defended America’s relationship with Israel.
As the former South Carolina governor, Haley seized the opportunity to vigorously push her policies on foreign relations and abortion, aiming to stand out from the crowded Republican 2024 primary field.
“I don’t care about polls. What I care about is telling the American people the truth,” she boldly declared in response to a question about her poll numbers.
Addressing the country’s high inflation, Haley held both Republicans and the Trump administration accountable for their role in exacerbating the situation. “The truth is that Biden didn’t do this to us. Our Republicans did this to us too when they passed that $2.2 trillion COVID stimulus bill,” she asserted.
In a heated exchange with Vivek Ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur and political newcomer, Haley fiercely criticized his foreign policy views.
Former Ambassador Nikki Haley slams Vivek Ramaswamy at the GOP debate on Ukraine and foreign policy:
“You are choosing a murderer over a pro-American country… You would make America less safe. You have no foreign policy experience and it shows. It shows.” pic.twitter.com/NRilZGZf7G
— The Recount (@therecount) August 24, 2023
“You have no foreign policy experience and it shows,” she asserted, emphasizing that America’s safety would be compromised under Ramaswamy’s leadership.
“A win for Russia is a win for China,” Haley passionately stated. “We have to know that. Ukraine is the first line of defense for us. And the problem that Vivek doesn’t understand is he wants to hand Ukraine to Russia, he wants to let China eat Taiwan, he wants to go and stop funding Israel. You don’t do that to friends. What you do instead is you have the backs of your friends.”
“Putin has said once Russia takes Ukraine, Poland and the Baltics are next. That’s a world war. We’re trying to prevent war,” she warned.
Haley accused Ramaswamy of “choosing a murderer over a pro-American country.”
She further emphasized the significance of America’s alliance with Israel, stating, “It’s not that Israel needs America, America needs Israel.”
Ramaswamy retaliated with a jab of his own, sarcastically wishing Haley success in her “future career on the boards of Lockheed and Raytheon.”
Another intense exchange occurred between Haley and former Vice President Mike Pence regarding future abortion legislation in Congress.
“To be honest with you Nikki, you’re my friend, but consensus is the opposite of leadership,” Pence countered, expressing his support for a federal ban on abortions after 15 weeks.
Haley urged Pence to “be honest with the American people” about the limitations of a federal abortion ban, highlighting that “we haven’t had 45 pro-life senators in over 100 years, so no Republican president can ban abortions any more than a Democrat president could ban all those state laws.”
Throughout the debate, Haley proudly acknowledged her status as the only woman on the stage, quoting Margaret Thatcher: “If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman.”
Eight GOP presidential candidates graced the stage on Wednesday night for the first Republican primary debate, hosted by Fox News. Notably absent was former President Donald Trump, who currently leads the polls for the Republican nomination. Instead, he opted for an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, released on X, formerly known as Twitter, just minutes before the debate commenced.
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