Internet divided as Nikki Haley says Chris Christie's candidacy has left people 'scratching their heads'

DES MOINES, IOWA: Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley ripped into her GOP rival Chris Christie on Friday, January 5, saying his candidacy has “left everybody scratching their heads.”

The 51-year-old GOP frontrunner was in a joint interview with NBC News and The Des Moines Register when she claimed that the former New Jersey governor has staked his candidacy on defeating front-runner Donald Trump.

“He’s not playing in Iowa. He’s not playing in South Carolina,” Haley said, adding, “If he wants to defeat Trump, I think he can see exactly how you do that.”

When asked whether Christie should end his campaign, Haley said that’s his own decision. “That’s for him to see, and that’s for him to decide. I’m not going to tell anybody to get out of the race. I’m just going to run my own,” the former UN ambassador stated.

Haley also claimed that Christie’s efforts are merely confusing voters and might even help Trump by stealing votes from rival candidates.

“I think it’s left everybody scratching their heads, saying, ‘You know, you say you want to defeat Trump, yet you might be the one person that helps him win?’” she said.

Christie's campaign has been slow to get traction as he concentrates his efforts in New Hampshire. He has been urged to withdraw from the race and support Haley by a number of GOP officials, including allies of Haley.

Haley says she might make DeSantis her VP

During the interview, Haley stated she was running for president when asked if she would accept a position as Trump's running mate if he asked.

"I am not running to be vice president," she said, explaining "I have said that in every way I know possible." DeSantis, however, accused Haley of refusing to rule out the possibility. On Friday, she said she didn't answer the question because "I don't play my opponents' games."

"I have said I don't play for second. I have said I am not trying to be vice president for anyone … I am running for president. Six months from now, I'm happy to talk to you about who's going to be my vice president,” she said.

Asked if she would consider DeSantis as a running mate, Haley responded, "Maybe," and added, "If he wants to join forces with me, I welcome that."

"But right now, we've got a race that we feel good about. We've got a surge. We've got momentum. We've had hundreds of people show up at our events. We're doing well in Iowa. We're doing well in New Hampshire. We're going to keep on fighting,” Haley decisively asserted.

Internet reacts to Nikki Haley’s remarks on Chris Christie

Haley seems to have divided the internet with her attacks on Christie, which were reported on X as well. “Indeed. Same goes for her,” one X user slammed in the comments.

“I fully agree, but I also feel the same about her... Neither of them have any chance whatsoever,” a second person stated. “I would venture to say that Christie has more support than Haley yet somehow she might very well be installed as the nominee,” another predicted.

“He made more sense as a candidate to me. Unfortunately the writing was on the NH wall when Sununu backed Haley instead,” another user said. One person further speculated, “In other words, Christie is the only Republican candidate not running to be Trump’s next running mate.”

“As an independent… I am scratching my head at you and the other candidates except Christie,” one more said.

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.