Trump has dealt a blow to Haley’s campaign following victories in Iowa and New Hampshire
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley Faces Intense Opposition from Trump
While former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is still clamoring for a debate with former President Donald Trump, her opponent is doing everything he can to force her out of the race.
“As you know, Nikki Haley has made an unholy alliance with RINOs and never Trumpers,” Trump said to cheers in Rochester, New Hampshire, last Sunday, adding that she wants “liberals and Biden supporters” to vote for her. “The people behind Nikki are pro-amnesty, pro-China, pro-open borders, pro-war, pro-deep state, and they’re pro-Biden.”
He’s turned up the heat even more to force Haley out of the race. With the nomination sealed, Trump could focus on his legal battles and general election matchup with President Joe Biden.
Most notably, Trump posted on social media Wednesday night that going forward, any Haley donors would be banned from his campaign.
“Anybody that makes a ‘Contribution’ to Birdbrain, from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp,” he claimed.
“We don’t want them, and will not accept them, because we Put America First, and ALWAYS WILL!” the former president wrote.
Haley took the news in stride, writing on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, “Well in that case…donate here. Let’s Go!” and including a link to her fundraising page.
She even had T-shirts quickly drawn up for donors to show off their barred status, casting herself as a scrappy outsider.
But that’s far from Trump’s only effort to squeeze Haley out of the race less than two weeks after primary voting began.
Trump has revived a birther-style attack similar to the ones used against former President Barack Obama, stoking incorrect speculation that she cannot be president because her parents were not U.S. citizens when she was born.
In a similar vein, Trump has also circulated rumors about Haley’s marriage that first emerged during her successful 2010 run for South Carolina governor.
“She’s going to get indicted [if elected president] because they’ll say she was having an affair or something, you know. It doesn’t mean it’s lying,” he said ahead of the Iowa caucus.
Haley has long denied the accusations, but the Daily Mail revived the unproven claims last week by publishing affidavits taken in 2010 from two men alleging Haley cheated on her husband.
More subtly, Trump heavily featured Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), whom Haley appointed to the Senate in 2012, during his stops in New Hampshire. Scott has endorsed Trump and was often stationed right behind him during his speeches, providing a constant reminder of the popular senator’s support and stoking vice president speculation.
“You must really hate her,” Trump said at one point.
His New Hampshire victory speech was otherwise filled with invective against Haley, whom Trump nominated as ambassador to the United Nations shortly after winning the 2016 presidential election.
Trump called Haley an imposter, said she was wearing a “fancy dress that probably wasn’t so fancy,” and accused her of pretending she had won when she addressed supporters earlier in the evening.
“I don’t get too angry,” Trump said. “I get even.”
Blocking Haley donors from his campaign appears to be his next stab at getting even with a scorched-earth approach to the race.
Not everyone appears to be turned off by the threat, however. Former Trump White House press secretary Sarah Matthews responded by promptly sending a donation to Haley and tweeting about it.
“Done. Join me in donating to @NikkiHaley here: https://secure.winred.com/nikki-haley-for-president/home-debate,” Matthews posted to X.
The other, perhaps more effective, method of forcing Haley out involves Trump’s apparently growing support from the Republican National Committee.
RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said following the New Hampshire primary that it’s time for the party to unite behind Trump.
“I’m looking at the map and the path going forward, and I don’t see it for Nikki Haley,” McDaniel said on Fox News.
Reports surfaced Thursday afternoon that the RNC is considering a resolution from Trump ally David Bossie to effectively declare Trump the presumptive nominee, adding even more pressure on Haley to call it quits. Bossie later withdrew the effort after Trump said he’d prefer to win “at the ballot box.”
Haley has remained steadfast in calling for Trump to debate and dinging the RNC for not organizing one in South Carolina. She announced late Thursday she raised $2.6 million in the 48 hours since her New Hampshire primary defeat.
“Donald Trump’s threats highlight the stark choice in this election: personal vendettas or real conservative leadership,” said Haley spokeswoman AnnMarie Graham-Barnes. “Trump’s scheme blew up in his face.”
What strategies is Haley using to appeal to Republican voters and present herself as a unifying figure
Bly costs more than the whole room,” and accused her of being a “phony” who “talks a big game but doesn’t deliver.” He also took aim at Haley’s tenure at the United Nations, claiming that she did a “very poor job” and that other countries were “laughing at us.”
Despite the intense opposition from Trump, Nikki Haley remains determined to continue her bid for the presidency. During a recent campaign stop, she fired back at her former ally, stating, “I cannot be intimidated or silenced by someone who refuses to accept the will of the American people. I believe in the power of leadership and the strength of our democracy, and I will not be deterred by baseless attacks and hateful rhetoric.”
Haley is taking a calculated approach to handling Trump’s opposition. Instead of directly engaging in personal attacks, she is focusing on promoting her own policy positions and highlighting her experience as a successful governor and diplomat. She is frequently emphasizing her commitment to conservative values, economic growth, and national security, hoping to appeal to Republican voters who may be wary of Trump’s divisive rhetoric.
In addition, Haley is capitalizing on Trump’s controversial and polarizing style of leadership to present herself as a unifying figure who can heal the divisions in the country. She frequently mentions her ability to work with individuals from different backgrounds and ideologies, pointing to her successful tenure as governor of a deeply conservative state where she was able to bridge partisan divides and implement pragmatic policies.
Despite the challenges posed by Trump’s opposition, Haley remains a formidable candidate in the race for the presidency. She continues to build a strong grassroots support base and attract endorsements from influential Republican leaders. Additionally, her fundraising efforts have been successful, allowing her to finance an extensive campaign and reach a wide audience.
As the primary voting progresses, it remains to be seen how the intense opposition from Trump will affect Haley’s chances of securing the nomination. However, with her resilience, experience, and commitment to conservative ideals, Nikki Haley is poised to continue making a strong impact on the race for the presidency. Only time will tell if she can overcome the obstacles thrown her way and emerge as a contender in the upcoming general election.
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