President Biden pounced on Nikki Haley’s defense against former President Donald Trump’s attacks over her husband’s absence from the campaign trail.
At a rally in Conway, South Carolina, on Saturday, Trump criticized Major Michael Haley: “What happened to your husband? Where is she? He’s gone! He knew.”
“The answer is that Major Haley is overseas, serving his country right now. We know he thinks our troops are ‘dumb,’ but this guy wouldn’t acknowledge service to his country if he got slapped.” Biden posted on X Sunday.
Last June, Michael Haley embarked on a year-long deployment with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade to the Horn of Africa.
Trump has weathered similar dismay over former first lady Melania Trump’s infrequent public appearances during the election campaign.
She explained that she had been absent from the care center to care for her ailing mother, who died last month at the age of 78. Melania appeared at Mar-a-Lago on Saturday night.
Donald Trump wants Nikki Haley to drop out of school so he can focus his fire on President Biden. AP Last June, Nikki Haley’s husband, Michael Haley, embarked on a year-long deployment. AP
Michael Haley quickly responded to Trump, posting a meme of a wolf that read, “The difference between humans and animals? “Animals would never allow the stupidest to lead the pack.”
Nikki Haley was Trump’s US ambassador to the UN from 2017 to 2018.
“Michael is deployed serving our country, something you know nothing about. “Someone who continually disrespects the sacrifices of military families has no business being commander in chief,” X responded on Saturday.
The former South Carolina governor also used the confrontation with Trump to renew her calls for him to face her on the debate stage.
“Get up on the debate stage and say it to my face,” he mocked.
Trump is increasingly irritated by Haley’s refusal to drop out of the 2024 Republican presidential race, given her sweeping victories and dominant lead in the polls.
Haley hopes her home state of South Carolina, where she was governor from 2011 to 2017, can help her gain traction against him.
The South Carolina Republican primary is scheduled for February 24.
In addition to his comments about Michael Haley, Trump also came under scrutiny for questioning the United States’ commitment to NATO nations that fail to meet their obligations.
Michael is deployed serving our country, something you know nothing about. Someone who continually disrespects the sacrifices of military families has no business being commander in chief. https://t.co/AfN3u4AsJc
—Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 10, 2024
“I said, ‘Everyone is going to pay.’ They said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay, are they still going to protect us?’ I said, ‘Of course not.’ “They couldn’t believe the response,” Trump reflected on his presidency during the rally.
He then claimed that “one of the presidents of a large country” asked him if the United States would protect them from Russia if “they didn’t pay.”
“No, I wouldn’t protect you,” Trump reported saying. “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay. You have to pay your bills.”
Latest coverage of Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign
Trump had been a strong advocate for NATO members meeting their obligation to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on national defense.
In 2022, only seven of NATO’s 30 member countries reached the 2% threshold, according to its annual report published last year. Finland has since ascended to the alliance, bringing the number of members to 31.
President Biden has previously been angered by his predecessor’s comments toward veterans. REUTERS
The White House lashed out at Trump for musing about allowing Russia to attack NATO allies.
“Encouraging the invasion of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unhinged, and endangers American national security, global stability and our domestic economy,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said. according to the Associated Press.
“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the United States, and puts American and European soldiers at greater risk,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in response to Trump’s comments.
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