'Keeps getting worse': Nikki Haley slammed for citing 'Black friends growing up' to defend Civil War remark

DES MOINES, IOWA: Republican candidate Nikki Haley's Civil War controversy refuses to go away, and she seems to have fanned the flames further by saying she had 'Black friends growing up', as reported by The Independent.

More than a week after her controversial refusal to admit slavery as the cause of the Civil War in a New Hampshire event, it continues to overshadow her 2024 presidential campaign.

The issue repeated at the CNN town hall on Thursday, January 4, at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Attempting to defend her statements once again, she said, "I should have said slavery right off the bat, but if you grow up in South Carolina, literally in second and third grade, you learn about slavery."

"You grow up, and you have, you know, I had Black friends growing up. It is a very talked-about thing."

Haley was responding to GOP presidential contender Chris Christie's criticism of her remarks. The remarks had a negative impact on her campaign ahead of the upcoming Iowa caucus.

Nikki Haley says she was thinking about past slavery

Haley continued to clarify her viral Civil War comment, talking about the "big history" in South Carolina regarding slavery and the Civil War.

"I was thinking past slavery and talking about the lesson that we would learn going forward. I shouldn't have done that. I should have said slavery. But, in my mind, that's a given. Everybody associates the Civil War with slavery," the White House hopeful added.

She also recounted her childhood as the daughter of Indian immigrant parents, where her mother constantly reminded her, "Your job is not to show them how you're different, your job is to show them how you're similar."

Internet reacts to her defense

Netizens are outraged as Haley continues to dig her own grave in her attempts to defend her remarks; many point out that keeping her mouth shut is the better option.

One user wrote, "She just keeps getting worse."

Another user remarked, "She should have just kept her mouth shut. The more she tries to justify, the worse it looks for her."

"She actually went there. Does she have advisors? They need to be fired," read one response.

A fourth user added, "She is disgusting!" Another one said, "They say you can’t fall out of a ditch, but Nikki Haley is proving them wrong."

"Wretched woman. Truly," read one reaction.

Another wrote, "Anything for being his backup. Sad!!!"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.