A leading Texan independence campaigner has welcomed comments by Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, who said the Lone Star State has the right to secede from the U.S. if it wishes to.
In a podcast interview with Charlamagne tha God released on Wednesday, Haley was asked about her position on a state potentially seceding from the Union. She replied: “I believe in states’ rights. I believe that everything should be as close to the people to decide.
“If Texas decides they want to do that, they can do that. If that whole state says we don’t want to be part of America anymore. I mean, that’s their decision to make. I don’t think government needs to tell people how to live, how to do anything. I mean, I think that we need to let freedom live.”
Haley went on to play down the prospect of Texas actually becoming an independent state, stating: “Texas isn’t going to…secede, that’s not something that they’re going to do.”
Speaking to Newsweek Daniel Miller, president of the pro-independence Texas Nationalist Movement—which advocates for for a so-called “TEXIT”—welcomed Haley’s statement.
He said: “Regardless of Haley’s policies, it’s important to acknowledge that a major presidential candidate, former governor, and former official in the Trump administration has gone on the record supporting the right of Texans to choose independence and has strongly denounced the use of force to override the results of that vote if Texans choose to TEXIT.”
Newsweek has reached out to Haley’s presidential campaign for comment by email.
Tensions have surged in recent weeks between Texan authorities and the Biden administration over how to handle illegal migration, with the Supreme Court on January 22 ruling federal agents can dismantle razor wire placed along the border on the orders of Governor Greg Abbott.
Abbott responded with a furious open letter in which he claimed Texas is facing an “invasion” and invoked the state’s “constitutional authority to defend and protect itself.” On his Truth Social website Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump urged other GOP-run states to send their National Guards to Texas to support Abbott’s border controls.
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When asked about Texan independence by Fox News Digital on Thursday from a campaign event in Columbia, South Carolina, Haley insisted “they’re not going to do it,” before hitting out at Biden over his handling of illegal immigration.
She said: “What should be the issue with Texas is they are dealing with a terrible illegal immigration crisis. The federal government, Joe Biden, is not being there for them. We should let them do whatever they need to, to keep Texans safe and to keep Texas protected.”
Haley is now Trump’s main challenger for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis dropped out and endorsed the former president following his defeat in the Iowa caucus. On January 23 Trump won the New Hampshire Republican primary with 54.3 percent of the vote, ahead of Haley on 43.3 percent. The next GOP contest is scheduled to take place in South Carolina, Haley’s home state, on February 24, with polling indicating Trump is on track for another victory.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.