Nikki Haley slams Trump on ‘Fox & Friends’ for silence on Putin after Navalny death and ‘late-night rants' on his court cases

Nikki Haley emphasized the need to prioritize global threats and strengthen US security, urging a shift from Donald Trump's personal grievances
Nikki Haley says Donald Trump should focus on global threats and US security instead of his personal grievances (Getty Images)
Nikki Haley says Donald Trump should focus on global threats and US security instead of his personal grievances (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley didn't hold back in her criticism of Donald Trump's approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being "weak in the knees" and expressing disappointment over his silence on the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Haley's critique: Trump's silence on Putin

In an interview on Fox News' 'Fox & Friends' on Monday, February 19, Haley remarked, “I mean it’s amazing to me how weak in the knees he is when it comes to Putin. Because you look at the fact, he has yet to say anything about Navalny’s death,” Haley continued, quickly adding, “Putin murdered him. It’s what he does to his political opponents.”

Concerns over Trump's priorities

Haley expressed concern over Trump's focus on personal grievances, stating he "doesn’t talk about anything. All he does is go on late-night rants talking about his court cases. We have Russia sitting there doing things. They’re now surrounding the Baltics, which, if they go in and invade the Baltics, that puts America at war. We have to prevent war."

She emphasized the need to prioritize global threats and strengthen US security, urging a shift from Trump's personal grievances.

"The focus we need to have is, how do we protect Americans? How do we prevent war? How do we get the border secure? How do we get our economy back on track? Not his personal grievances," said Haley.

Navalny's death sparks global concerns

Navalny's death in prison has triggered global concerns, with many attributing it to Putin's regime. President Biden, at a press conference, held Putin responsible, describing it as proof of Putin's brutality.

“Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. Putin is responsible. What has happened to Navalny is yet more proof of Putin’s brutality. No one should be fooled,” said Biden.



 

Trump's perspective on Navalny's death

However, Trump, in response to Haley's remarks, linked Navalny's death to his own political grievances in a public post on his Truth Social platform.

“The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our Country. It is a slow, steady progression, with CROOKED, Radical Left Politicians, Prosecutors, and Judges leading us down a path to destruction. Open Borders, Rigged Elections, and Grossly Unfair Courtroom Decisions are DESTROYING AMERICA. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION! MAGA2024,” Trump wrote.

Trump's response to Haley's criticism

In response to Haley's criticism, a spokesperson for Trump dismissed her as a "loser" and took a personal jab, stating, "Nikki 'Birdbrain' Haley is a loser who is boasting about taking '12 fellas down' when she can't even win one state in this election."

GET BREAKING U.S. NEWS & POLITICAL UPDATES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Scott Bessent defended Donald Trump's Russia sanctions policy and questioned why Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Washington over the reported disruption
2026-10-19T05:23:13.000Z
Gavin Newsom said he had not spoken to Kimberly Guilfoyle recently as she faced allegations over a $100,000 credit card bill
2026-10-19T05:11:00.000Z
Barack Obama warned that the investigation into Ilhan Omar could normalize political intimidation and encourage future presidents to target opponents
2026-10-19T04:12:44.000Z
Trump announced plans to transform East Potomac Golf Links into a championship-level course despite an ongoing legal battle, prompting judge Ana Reyes to demand clarification on the project's status
2026-10-19T03:42:51.000Z
Law enforcement investigated a suspicious phone call at Trump’s Florida airport, prompting increased police presence, traffic restrictions and travel delays
2026-10-19T03:10:59.000Z
Abdul El-Sayed compared questions about his Muslim faith to scrutiny of John F Kennedy’s Catholicism, defending religious freedom and constitutional rights
2026-10-19T02:52:42.000Z
Donald Trump faced bipartisan criticism after suspending penalties targeting Russia and countries buying its oil and gas
2026-10-19T02:28:06.000Z
Trump said he endorsed Netanyahu because they have a 'good relationship' and would 'continue to do well' together if Netanyahu is reelected
2026-10-18T21:23:52.000Z
“Why don’t we revisit the Biden-era policies where the American people got smoked? 21.5% inflation and only about 17% wage increases,” Bessent said
2026-10-18T20:30:13.000Z
“We want to trust him,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Trump. “I hope that he will change his decisions, because I think that it’s all mistakes, and it will not help us, and it will not help United States”
2026-10-18T17:35:43.000Z