In a recent series of public statements and social media posts, former President Donald Trump has been propagating a misleading narrative about Nikki Haley, his potential rival for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump has been asserting that Haley, who served as the governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, was once a supporter of Democratic President Barack Obama, even suggesting that she had momentarily favored Obama over Mitt Romney in the 2012 election.
Trump’s allegations, however, are not grounded in fact. Haley has consistently been a vocal critic of Obama and a steadfast supporter of Romney. She endorsed Romney in the 2012 Republican primary, which Romney eventually won, and was also an early endorser in the 2008 Republican presidential primary that Romney lost. There is no evidence to suggest that Haley ever shifted her support from Romney to Obama.
Trump’s claims appear to be based on a single video clip from the 2012 campaign, in which Haley, while appearing with Romney at a campaign event, mistakenly said that Obama wanted to strengthen the military instead of Romney. The clip shows Romney correcting Haley’s slip of the tongue, and Haley acknowledging her mistake with a smile. However, this isolated incident does not substantiate Trump’s claim that Haley was an Obama supporter.
Trump’s misleading narrative about Haley’s political past seems to be an attempt to discredit her in the lead-up to the 2024 primary. However, it is important to note that the evidence does not support his claims. Haley has consistently opposed Obama’s policies and supported Romney’s presidential campaigns. Any suggestion to the contrary is simply not accurate.
As the South Carolina Republican primary approaches on February 24, it is crucial to separate fact from fiction in the political discourse.