'He’ll be a great comedian': Trump mocked for claiming he 'purposely' lost DC primary to Nikki Haley

WASHINGTON, DC: Former US Ambassador and one-time South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley emerged victorious in the Republican presidential primary for Washington, DC dealing a symbolic blow to former President Donald Trump's campaign.

Haley's triumph in the nation's capital, albeit expected, marked a pivotal moment in her campaign, securing her the title of the first woman to win a Republican primary in US history.

The DC Republican Party announced on Sunday evening, March 3, that Haley clinched nearly 63 percent of the vote, with a total of 2,035 voters participating. Trump, on the other hand, secured just over 33 percent, placing second in the primary.

Donald Trump's response to Nikki Haley's win

Despite this defeat, Trump's campaign opted for a snarky congratulatory note, saying Haley had been crowned “Queen of the Swamp by the lobbyists and DC insiders that want to protect the failed status quo.”

Trump himself took to his social media platform, Truth Social, saying he "purposely stayed away from the D.C. Vote because it is the "Swamp," with very few delegates, and no upside."

"Birdbrain spent all of her time, money, and effort there," he added Sunday night. "Over the weekend we won Missouri, Idaho, and Michigan - BIG NUMBERS - Complete destruction of a very weak opponent. The really big numbers will come on Super Tuesday. Also, WAY UP ON CROOKED JOE!"

With Haley surpassing the 50 percent mark, she was awarded all 19 of DC's delegates, further bolstering her campaign's momentum. However, this victory, while significant, does little to close the delegate gap with Trump, who has already amassed 244 delegates out of the necessary 1,215 for the Republican nomination.

Trump's dominance in recent primaries, including victories in Missouri, Idaho, and Michigan, has solidified his position as the frontrunner. Despite this, Haley's camp remains undeterred, choosing to focus on celebrating her historic win.

Olivia Perez-Cubas, Haley's spokesperson, highlighted the groundbreaking nature of her victory. “This makes Nikki Haley the first woman to win a Republican primary in U.S. history,” Perez-Cubas noted in a tweet. "It's not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos," she added.

Social media reactions

Nevertheless, critics wasted no time in mocking Trump's response to his loss, with social media platforms buzzing with ridicule.

"He’ll be a great comedian in prison someday," one posted on X.

"And his supporters will believe it... This is a full-on cult. MAGA will try to change reality, and the base is all SO swept up in it, they will buy it," another wrote.

"This is like Trump claiming he *purposely* confused Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden with Barack Obama. He'd rather look stupid than admit error or to being a loser," a comment read.

"It must be agony to be him; imagine how he twists and gnaws at himself inside, just to avoid facing reality. He is perhaps the most seriously damaged human being of a generation," someone else chimed in.

"Someone...anyone... please... help this man... He is clearly in need of serious medical attention immediately," another added.

Looking ahead 

However, it's worth noting that the demographics of DC lean heavily Democratic, and Trump has lost the city both in 2016 and 2020.

Furthermore, Haley's triumph in DC comes amidst speculation regarding her loyalty to the Republican National Committee's pledge to endorse Trump if he secures the party's nomination.

In a recent interview on NBC's 'Meet the Press', Haley avoided definitive statements about endorsing Trump. “If you talk about an endorsement, you’re talking about a loss,” she said. “I don’t think like that.”

As the Republican race intensifies, all eyes are now on Super Tuesday, where 13 states will hold their primaries and caucuses, with a total of 854 delegates up for grabs, per the BBC.

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