Nikki Haley trolled for saying Trump 'not qualified' to be president over 'disrespect for the military'

COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA: In a bold declaration on Monday, February 12, Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley took a decisive stance against former President Donald Trump, asserting that he is "not qualified" to lead the nation once more.

Haley's remarks came in response to Trump's recent comments regarding her deployed husband, sparking a fiery exchange between the two political figures.

Trump's disparaging remarks spark controversy

During a rally on Saturday afternoon, Trump took aim at Haley and her husband, Michael Haley - who is currently serving in the South Carolina Army National Guard on a yearlong deployment - in a seemingly disparaging manner, recounting a past encounter at his Florida resort, Mar-a-Lago.

“Then she comes over to see me at Mar-a-Lago. ‘Sir, I will never run against you.’ She brought her husband," the 45th POTUS said. "Where’s your husband? Oh, he’s away. He’s away. What happened to her husband? What happened to her husband? Where is he? He’s gone! He knew. He knew."

This prompted Haley to swiftly denounce Trump's conduct, citing it as evidence of his inadequacy for the presidency. "He showed that with that kind of disrespect for the military, he’s not qualified to be the president of the United States, because I don’t trust him to protect them," Haley stated firmly, citing concerns over Trump's attitude towards the armed forces.

Haley's critique of Trump

The latest exchange adds fuel to a longstanding feud between Haley and Trump, with the former UN ambassador not mincing words in her critique of the former president.

Referring to Trump's past remarks about her marriage and military service, Haley highlighted the stark contrast between her husband's sacrifices and Trump's lack of military experience.

"He’s never had to fight for survival like so many of them sacrifice to go do," she asserted. "The most harm he’s ever come across is whether a golf ball hits him on a golf cart."

Haley further questioned the sincerity of Trump's comments, dismissing them as part of a broader pattern of disrespect towards the military. Citing previous instances where Trump allegedly referred to service members as "suckers" and "losers," Haley cast doubt on Trump's suitability for leadership.

"This wasn’t a slip of the tongue for Trump," she remarked. "When he goes off his teleprompter, that’s him speaking from the heart and it’s a pattern."

Despite her previous support for Trump's military policies, including defending him against accusations of disrespect towards the armed forces, Haley's recent rebuke marks a significant shift in her stance towards the former president.

Despite signing a pledge to support her party’s nominee before participating in GOP primary debates last year, Haley did not directly answer a question about whether she would vote for Trump again in 2024.

“Anyone who will put down members of the military, anyone who will say that while they’re deployed — which is pretty disgusting — do you really want that person being the leader of all those who may have to go fight in a war?” she said.

In response to Haley's criticism, Trump's national press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, issued a staunch defense of the former president. “There has been no greater advocate for our brave military men and women than President Trump," she said.

“Nikki Haley advocates for greater foreign intervention and supports endless wars that would leave more American heroes dead. It’s a good thing she will be never be commander-in-chief," Leavitt added.

As the South Carolina primary approaches on February 24, Haley has escalated her campaign against Trump, employing tactics such as mocking him with a chicken mascot and questioning his mental competency.

Additionally, Haley's campaign has capitalized on Trump's remarks by fundraising and rallying supporters around a pro-military message, NBC News reported.

Social Media Backlash

However, the South Carolina Republican was trolled on social media for saying her former boss is "not qualified" to lead the country again.

"That's for the voters to decide, not Nikki Haley," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"But is Nikki qualified to lead the country?" another wondered.

"She needs to stop speaking for all veterans," someone else insisted.

"She’s Desperate for attention," another chimed in.