Trump Mocks Haley in New Hampshire Victory Speech
In a surprising turn of events, during his victory speech at the Sheraton in Nashua, former President Donald Trump took the opportunity to criticize Nikki Haley, who had just announced her determination to continue her campaign in South Carolina despite her loss in the New Hampshire primary.
Haley, who graciously congratulated Trump on his victory, faced a sharp rebuke as Trump questioned the tone and content of her speech. "I said, wow, she's doing a speech like she won. She didn't win. She lost,” Trump stated, clearly agitated by Haley's decision not to drop out of the race.
Surrounded by some of his former 2024 rivals, including Sen. Tim Scott, Vivek Ramaswamy, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Trump expressed his displeasure at watching Haley take the stage "all dressed up nicely." The former president, who exhibited a more conciliatory tone after winning the Iowa caucus, took a different approach this time, declaring, “I don't get too angry; I get even.”
Trump and his campaign have been vocal in urging Haley to withdraw from the race, asserting that she lacks a viable path to the nomination following Trump's victories in Iowa and New Hampshire. Despite not being on the ballot for the upcoming Nevada caucus, Haley has vowed to press on, with her eyes set on the primary in her home state of South Carolina.
During his speech, Trump turned to Sen. Tim Scott, who was appointed to the Senate by Haley, and remarked on the endorsement, suggesting it might signify Scott's disdain for Haley. Scott responded with a lighthearted, "I just love you."
As the race for the Republican nomination intensified, Trump emphasized the importance of winning, stating, “We are going to win this. We have no choice. If we don't win, I think our country is finished.” The tension between Trump and Haley adds a new dynamic to the evolving political landscape, setting the stage for a potentially contentious battle in the upcoming primaries
