Donald Trump said that anyone who gives money to Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign will be “permanently barred” from the MAGA movement, after the former South Carolina governor claimed she had raised $1 million in donations since her defeat in the New Hampshire GOP primary.
In a post to Truth Social, Trump attacked Haley, who served an U.N. ambassador in his White House administration, as well her “Humiliating Public Loss” in both the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary, which has cemented the former president’s position as the favorite to clinch the 2024 Republican nomination.
New Hampshire was seen as a huge chance for Haley to pose a serious challenge to Trump in the primary, seeing as the state is considered more moderate. However, Haley, Trump’s only serious rival left in the GOP primary, lost to the former president on Tuesday night by 11 points.
Haley has dismissed suggestions that she will now drop out of the race, and insists she is concentrating on winning the primary in her home state of South Carolina on February 24. During a speech in North Charleston on Wednesday, a defiant Haley said she had raised $1 million since her speech in New Hampshire the night before.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
“We have had 200,000 donors from all 50 states, 95 percent of those donations are $200 or less,” Haley said. “This is about real Americans.”
Trump has now lashed out at Haley over her credentials while threatening to blackball anyone who contributes to her 2024 campaign.
“Nikki ‘Birdbrain’ Haley is very bad for the Republican Party and, indeed, our Country. Her False Statements, Derogatory Comments, and Humiliating Public Loss, is demeaning to True American Patriots. Her anger should be aimed at her Third Rate Political Consultants and, more importantly, Crooked Joe Biden and those that are destroying our Country—NOT THE PEOPLE WHO WILL SAVE IT,” Trump wrote.
“I knew Nikki well, she was average at best, is not the one to take on World Leaders, and she never did. That was up to me, and that is why they respected the United States.
“When I ran for Office and won, I noticed that the losing Candidate’s ‘Donors’ would immediately come to me, and want to ‘help out.’ This is standard in Politics, but no longer with me,” Trump added. “Anybody that makes a ‘Contribution’ to Birdbrain, from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp. We don’t want them, and will not accept them, because we Put America First, and ALWAYS WILL!”
Reacting to the remarks, Haley posted on X, formerly Twitter, while sharing a link to her campaign page: “Well in that case…donate here. Let’s Go!”
Haley’s campaign team has been contacted for further comment via email.
Haley said she is looking forward to the South Carolina primary despite the next race taking place in Nevada on February 6. This is because unlike most states, Nevada is holding both a primary contest and caucus, which will take place two days later.
Haley opted to only compete in the state-run primary contest, whereas Trump is competing in the GOP-run Nevada caucus, which is where the delegates will actually be awarded.
In his victory speech in New Hampshire on Tuesday night, Trump mocked Haley for appearing on the Nevada primary ballots, and not the caucus.
“I did hear Nikki say ‘it’s off to South Carolina,’ and I do love South Carolina, but she forgot one thing: next week it’s Nevada,” Trump said. “And I’m pleased to announce we just won Nevada, 100 percent.”
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.