'Shameful': Outrage as Nikki Haley reiterates her stance that US was never racist country

HENNIKER, NEW HAMPSHIRE: Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley doubled down on her position that America was never a racist country.

Speaking at the  CNN town hall on Thursday night, January 18, at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire, the Indian-origin White House hopeful also looked back into the racism she felt while growing up as a "brown girl."

Nearly a month after her Civil War controversy, where she failed to admit slavery as the cause of it, Haley made the infamous comment on January 16 in an interview on 'Fox & Friends'.

"We're not a racist country, Brian. We've never been a racist country," she said to co-host Brian Kilmeade, as per the report by The Hill.

Nikki Haley's parents never said they lived in racist country

Defending her previous remarks, Haley said her Indian immigrant parents never said they lived in a racist country during her life as a brown girl in a small rural town despite facing "plenty" of racism.

"I'm so thankful they didn't, because for every brown and black child out there, if you tell them they live or were born in a racist country, you're immediately telling them they don't have a chance," the former South Carolina Governor said.

Adding, "America is not perfect," Haley said that the presence of racist people does not define what one can do in the country. Irrespective of the stains, the US's goal should be "to make today better than yesterday."

The presidential hopeful also stated her achievements, including being the first female minority Governor in history, the UN ambassadorship, and the presidential race.

"I want every brown and black child to see that and say, no, I don't live in a country that was formed on racism. I live in a country where they wanted all people to be equal, and to make sure that they had life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," Haley stated.

She is boosting up her campaign and posing a tight competition to Republican front-runner Donald Trump. After coming in third place at the Iowa caucus, Haley hopes to spike up her momentum in the Granite state ahead of the primary on January 23.

Internet reactions to Nikki Haley's remarks

Netizens are unsatisfied with Haley's takes on the racist history of the United States. Social media reactions deemed her failure to acknowledge American history as "shameful" and "disgusting."

One user remarked, "Shameful."

Another user wrote, "This is a very poor attempt to rewrite history. There is nothing wrong with telling your kids that they have a chance in society. That is what makes this country great. Denying the past, no matter how ugly it may be, is not the way, Nikki."

"ANYONE that does not know, or refuses to acknowledge America's history, for whatever reason, should absolutely NOT be POTUS," read a third response.

A fourth user opined, "She is disgusting." Another added, "So, American isn’t racist bc my parents told me so. OMG. Not presidential material."

"She still can't speak to the truth of what she said. She just keeps changing the answer," one user wrote.

Another reaction read, "This double speak is making me dizzy."

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.