Once regarded as a moderate Republican, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has repeatedly proven her devotion to outgoing President Donald Trump, under whom she served as United Nations Ambassador.
A private citizen now, Haley's used her Twitter account to stay politically relevant, but she may have bitten off more than she could chew in her recent beef with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) on the site.
It all started when Ocasio-Cortez—known colloquially as "AOC"—called for further monetary aid in the face of the pandemic that's killed over 250 thousand Americans, unemployed millions more, and upended every facet of daily life in the United States.
With cases on the rise yet again, AOC bluntly that "we need to pay people to stay home" in order to get the virus under control.
To get the virus under control, we need to pay people to stay home.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 19, 2020
She further pointed out that Republicans voted for the CARES Act in March, which sent a $1200 stimulus check to most American adults. The CARES Act also included a bailout for corporations, which Ocasio-Cortez says is the main reason Republicans were amenable to passing it.
Republicans are mad at this when they literally just voted to do just this in March.
The reason they're opposed to it now is because last time they got a Wall Street bailout and this time all that's left is helping working people, the disabled, the poor, etc.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 19, 2020
Haley attempted to challenge AOC, bringing up commonplace Republican talking points like decrying the idea of defunding the police and the Green New Deal.
AOC, Are you suggesting you want to pay people to stay home from the money you take by defunding the police? Or was that for the student debts you wanted to pay off, the Green New Deal or Medicare for All? #WhereIsTheMoney https://t.co/wZxxz67wcv
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) November 19, 2020
But AOC—whose expert Twitter comebacks frequently go viral—didn't flinch.
Nikki, I'm suggesting Republicans find the spine to stand up to their corporate donors & vote for the same measures they did in March, except without the Wall St bailout this time.
And I know you're confused abt actual governance but police budgets are municipal, not federal. https://t.co/GCyUagbruG
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 19, 2020
Utterly embarrassing that this woman was a governor & still doesn't have a grasp on public investment. Wonder if she says federal financing works like a piggy bank or household too?
All this faux-seriousness from folks who worship Trump for running the country like his casino 🙄
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 19, 2020
People were amazed at the brutal response.
Oh my god this roast just cleared my skin https://t.co/hbQb6LPLFE
— betty (@betttylava) November 20, 2020
AOC OUT HERE EATING THE GIRLIES UP LMAO https://t.co/OhQpGwqx7O
— Kamala's Silk Press ✨ (@taykm98) November 20, 2020
LMAOOO the emoji killed me https://t.co/bKdj4OIFH5
— AUSA Angela Valdes (@nathaly_ochoa) November 19, 2020
Burn! https://t.co/qjO4ZILkCy
— Saeed Ibrahim (@Saeed_beeldeeq) November 20, 2020
People had answers to Haley's question of where the money would come from.
lol pretending to do fiscal conservatism again? where is the money? y'all fired up the hp inkjet in the basement of the fed and printed 3 trillion dollars to prop up the stock market in may.
— Anarchist Jurisdiction CEO (@koush) November 19, 2020
This is exactly what other Countries have done! Allows people to keep their homes, feed their kids, not lose their jobs. Helps restaurants and bars to stay in business. The ONLY reason we are here at all is because of the colossal failure to contain a virus!
— Jules (@jmreycroft) November 19, 2020
We could use the money reserved for corporate/bank bailouts or billions overspent on the Pentagon.
— Rich Swinton 🇺🇸 (@RicoSuaveJD) November 19, 2020
Perhaps, start by asking Jared Kushner and Kanye West to return the PPP money that Trump gave them?
— Exploding Golden Goose Singh, MD 🌊 (@LabyrinthWeaver) November 19, 2020
Haley is largely considered a potential frontrunner in the 2024 Republican primary.
@DreamChasnMike/X
Peppermint Narwhal Creative/Facebook
Texas HB54
Texas HB54
@fuzzwolf/Bluesky
@nikisumrow/Bluesky
@dogpatch/Bluesky
@mmasnick/Bluesky
@notsilencednow/X
The Amazing Race 
Oh No Wow GIF by The Great British Bake Off
Harry Potter GIF
Angry Inside Out GIF by 