Former President Donald Trump recently sat down with Fox News host Bret Baier for an interview following a campaign rally in New Hampshire. During the interview, Baier questioned Trump about his recent attacks on fellow Republican and presidential candidate Nikki Haley. While Haley defended herself by pointing out that Trump once praised her while she served as the U.N. ambassador, the former president seemed unfazed and stated that he has nicknames for many people. He brushed off Baier’s question about his use of Haley’s birth name, Nimarata, by stating that he also gave nicknames to other politicians such as Hutchinson and Warren. Trump sees it as just a bit of fun and even a tool to use against his opponents.
Baier pushed back, asking Trump to explain what he meant by his use of Haley’s birth name, but the former president simply continued to defend his actions. He claimed that he always knew Haley was a “globalist,” and that this trait makes her unfit for the presidency. According to Trump, the U.S. cannot afford to have a “globalist” leader, especially with the current state of foreign politics. He also took this opportunity to boast about his own achievements as president, stating that he had no wars going on and was able to defeat ISIS in just a few months.
Trump then went on to criticize Haley’s negotiating skills, claiming that she “wouldn’t be good for this job” if she were to become president. This is not the first time he has publicly criticized her, as he has repeatedly referred to her as “Nimbra” on his social media platform, Truth Social, and has called her “weak.” Haley, whose given birth name is Nimarata Nikki Randhawa, has always gone by her middle name and later took on her husband’s surname after their marriage in 1996.
Haley herself has responded to Trump’s attacks, calling them a sign of his insecurity and feeling threatened by her candidacy. She also believes that the former president is trying to distance himself from her as the New Hampshire primary draws closer, in which Trump currently holds a 17-point lead. This is based on the latest poll conducted by Suffolk University, The Boston Globe, and NBC10 Boston, which estimated Trump’s support at 53 percent.
Donald Trump explains why he gives his political opposition “nicknames”:
“Some people say I’m very good at that…I have fun with it. To tell you the truth, it’s a very effective tool." pic.twitter.com/3C8iMyctns
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 21, 2024
In the interview, Trump made it clear that he does not believe Haley is fit for the presidency. He believes that being a “globalist” is a disqualifying trait and that he was the only one capable of bringing peace and strength to the country. Trump also made a point to mention that he got to know Haley well during her time as U.N. ambassador, and that she was not a great negotiator. Overall, Trump’s attacks on Haley seem to be his attempt at keeping her from gaining ground in the primary race, as he sees her as a potential threat to his own popularity.