In a recent interview, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley dismissed former President Donald Trump’s criticism of her as “not tough enough”, suggesting that his comments were a sign of his growing concern over the tightening GOP primary race. Haley, who served as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, responded to Trump’s remarks on CNN’s Dana Bash show on Sunday.
“No one who has ever worked for me or with me has questioned my toughness,” Haley stated. “His comments are a clear indication that he realizes he’s in a precarious position. He’s aware that this is evolving into a two-horse race. I’m not bothered by his remarks because I know he’s aware of the reality.”
Haley found Trump’s comments amusing, recalling how he used to warn others not to cross her during her tenure at the UN due to her toughness. Recent polls indicate Haley’s growing popularity in the GOP primary race, prompting Trump, who still holds a significant lead in Iowa and national polls, to shift his focus from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to Haley.
At a rally in Iowa on Sunday, Trump told his supporters, “Nikki did a decent job, she was alright, but she’s not fit to be president. I know her well, and she has the wrong mindset, the wrong policy. She’s not tough enough to deal with the tough leaders we’re up against.”
The final Des Moines Register/NBC News/Mediacom poll released on Saturday night showed Trump as the first choice for 48% of likely caucus-goers, with Haley and DeSantis trailing at 20% and 16% respectively. However, Haley’s best chance of challenging Trump may lie in New Hampshire, where a recent CNN poll showed her reducing Trump’s lead to single digits in the upcoming primary.
Trump received an endorsement from his former rival, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, on Sunday. Interestingly, Haley had endorsed Rubio in the South Carolina primary in 2016, which Trump won convincingly. When asked about Rubio’s endorsement of Trump, Haley said, “I’m more interested in the voters’ endorsements than those of elected officials.”
Haley also received an endorsement from former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan on Sunday. When asked about Hogan’s support, she said, “We’ll accept support from anyone who wants to give it, but it’s not something I actively seek or fight for.”
Contributors to this report include CNN’s Alayna Treene, Kate Sullivan, and Kylie Atwood.