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Former Republican Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley has ignited a firestorm of criticism following a Wall Street Journal interview in which she fawned over former Republican President Donald Trump.
Haley, who was Trump's Ambassador to the United Nations and his expected by many to run for the Republican nomination in 2024, praised Trump's role in the Republican Party and lauded his supposed accomplishments for the country during his presidency.
Her comments have inspired waves of ire from both sides of the political aisle, particularly in light of her previous criticisms of the former President.
Nikki Haley calls Donald Trump a friend and says she\u2019d consult with him before embarking on a White House bid. "We need him in the Republican Party. I don't want us to go back to the days before Trump.\u201dhttps://on.wsj.com/3uP21Dd— WSJ Politics (@WSJ Politics) 1633458201
In the interview, conducted before an appearance that the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, Haley told the WSJ that she considers Trump to be a friend and will only run for president in 2024 after consulting with him first.
Haley's fawning over Trump stopped short of sharing his claims that he won in 2020, however—Haley believes he lost the election.
As she told the WSJ:
"There was fraud in the election, but I don't think that the numbers were so big that it swayed the vote in the wrong direction."
That's precisely the sort of quote that will get you immediately deleted from Trump's Christmas card list, to say the least.
But Haley seemed unconcerned, going on to praise Trump as a hero both to the Republican Party and the country.
"He has a strong legacy from his administration. He has the ability to get strong people elected, and he has the ability to move the ball, and I hope that he continues to do that."
"We need him in the Republican Party."
"I don't want us to go back to the days before Trump."
Haley's comments were in striking contrast to those she has made previously about Trump, of whom she has frequently been critical and whom she excoriated following the January 6 insurrection.
In a February interview with Politico, Haley said she was "disgusted" by Trump's actions and decried the ways he has impacted the Republican Party.
"...[W]e shouldn't have followed him, and we shouldn't have listened to him. And we can't let that ever happen again."
And she predicted a Trump-free future for the Republican Party.
"I don't think he's going to be in the picture. I don't think he can. He's fallen so far."However Haley felt then, the bloom seems to be back on the rose now—and Twitter is dragging her for her hypocrisy.
\u201cWe need to acknowledge he let us down,\u201d she said. \u201cHe went down a path he shouldn\u2019t have, and we shouldn\u2019t have followed him, and we shouldn\u2019t have listened to him. And we can\u2019t let that ever happen again.\u201d\n(Also @NikkiHaley)\nhttps://www.politico.com/interactives/2021/magazine-nikki-haleys-choice/\u00a0\u2026— Talia Sadote (@Talia Sadote) 1633467337
Man, when she committed to sell her soul, she went ALL THE WAY.\n\nDear universe, take note and proceed accordingly.\nThank you .— mwy (@mwy) 1633474123
@NikkiHaley This you?https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/12/politics/nikki-haley-donald-trump-gop/index.html\u00a0\u2026— Kathleen supports Voting Rights (@Kathleen supports Voting Rights) 1633467915
.@NikkiHaley is an extraordinary liar and she doesn't get enough credit for it. She's fantastic at it. If lying was an Olympic event Nikki Haley would be the Michael Phelps of the sport. She has that unique Republican ability to look you in the eye and lie to your face w/ a smilepic.twitter.com/8DCveZw2pX— Don Winslow (@Don Winslow) 1632858169
Even many Republicans were disgusted by Haley's comments.
Nikki Haley trying to walk a line that can't be walked.pic.twitter.com/ChJlNhpmZZ— David Frum (@David Frum) 1633379775
Nikki Haley is wrong. And any Republican who \u201cneeds\u201d a corrupt, lawless, treasonous authoritarian as their leader is wrong too. But Nikki has made her bed. Again.https://twitter.com/wsjpolitics/status/1445454580821659648\u00a0\u2026— Joe Walsh (@Joe Walsh) 1633458668
Raise your hand if you\u2019ll never support Nikki Haley for president.\n#NeverNikki #NeverTrumpismpic.twitter.com/5Cmt2bkmJ4— Republicans against Trumpism (@Republicans against Trumpism) 1633467864
Crossing Nikki Haley off my list for 2024— kevinlebo (@kevinlebo) 1633479086
Haley has been suspected of having presidential ambitions for years and has been raising money for her own political-action committee. She recently spent several days in Iowa, where the presidential nomination process begins.
She and South Dakota Republican Governor Kristi Noem are the only women currently expected to run for the Republican nomination.