On the third anniversary of his departure from the White House, former President Donald Trump focused his efforts on clearing the path for his third consecutive nomination. He launched a fierce attack on former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley during a rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, just two days before the state’s primary.
Trump emphasized the need for a strong show of unity, saying, “We need big margins.” However, his speech was largely dominated by a vengeful narrative, including complaints about the 2020 election results, defense of the January 6, 2021, rioters, and a renewed push for presidential immunity from prosecution.
The former President also took aim at current President Joe Biden, but his most vehement criticism was reserved for Haley, his former UN ambassador and closest competitor in the New Hampshire primary polls. Trump’s campaign highlighted Haley’s alleged ties to “Democrats, Wall Street & Globalists” and her stance on Social Security and other key issues.
Trump accused Haley of using “radical Democrat money” to fund her campaign and questioned her Republican credentials. He criticized her policy positions, particularly her proposal to raise the retirement age for younger people, which would delay their access to Social Security payments.
Trump also responded to Haley’s suggestion that he is too old to serve another term as president, assuring his supporters that he recently aced a cognitive test and would inform them if his mental fitness declined.
After finishing third in Iowa behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Haley’s campaign is under pressure in New Hampshire. A recent CNN/UNH poll found that 50% of likely GOP primary voters in the state support Trump, compared to 39% for Haley.
Trump also expressed his dissatisfaction with New Hampshire’s voting rules, falsely claiming that Democrats can participate in the Republican primary. However, New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan clarified that registered Democrats cannot vote in the Republican primary and vice versa.
Looking ahead to the South Carolina primary, Trump expressed confidence in his lead over Haley, despite it being her home state. He also reiterated his belief that all U.S. presidents should be immune from prosecution, a point of contention as he awaits a federal appeals court ruling on his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.
Trump had less to say about DeSantis, but he praised Hungary’s right-wing Prime Minister Viktor Orban, saying, “It’s nice to have a strong man running your country.”
This story has been updated with new reporting. CNN’s Kate Sullivan contributed to this report.