'She can't be trusted': Trump accuses Nikki Haley of relying on Dems to 'infiltrate' New Hampshire primary

ATKINSON, NEW HAMPSHIRE: At the Atkinson Country Club on Tuesday night, January 16, former President Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Nikki Haley, accusing her of relying on Democrats and liberals to boost her standing in the Republican primary in New Hampshire.

Trump, addressing a fervent crowd, claimed, "Nikki Haley, in particular, is counting on the Democrats and liberals to infiltrate your Republican primary."

"You know that the left ... that's what's happening ... have a group of people coming in that are not Republicans and it's artificially boosting her numbers here, although we're still leading her by a lot," he added.

Trump's campaign aides, buoyed by his resounding victory in Iowa, believe that defeating Haley in New Hampshire could all but secure his nomination. "If he beats Nikki in New Hampshire, it's over," the Daily Mail quoted one of his aides as saying.

Despite leading Haley by a significant margin, the former president warned of left-leaning individuals artificially boosting her numbers. Haley, running a close second in the state, faced a setback the previous night, finishing third behind Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Trump discredits Haley's poll numbers

Trump dismissed Haley as "not a particularly great candidate" and mocked her defeat by saying, "Obviously, as you've seen, she lost to somebody that beat her by about two and a half points. Ron DiSanctimonioous."

While DeSantis trails in New Hampshire and has indicated a lack of focus on the state, Haley remains a formidable opponent in Trump's eyes. She often cites a December Wall Street Journal poll showing her beating the likely Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, by 17 points.

However, Trump dismissed it by saying, "That poll is about three months old and it's a fake poll. And from every other poll, she's just about down in every election."

The former president took the stage in New Hampshire following a tumultuous 24 hours, including a triumphant victory in Iowa and a $10 million defamation trial in New York. He continued to defy norms, concluding his day by introducing 38-year-old biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who dropped out of the race a day earlier after a fourth-place finish in Iowa.

Ramaswamy praised Trump as a leader capable of bringing stability to the nation. "It's between the permanent state and the everyday citizen, between those of us who love the United States of America and a fringe minority, who hates this country and what we stand for," he said. "And right now we need a commander-in-chief who will lead us to victory in this war."

Despite delays caused by blizzards and freezing weather, around five hundred people gathered to hear Trump speak in the basement ballroom, waiting patiently for four hours. "This was a little bit rocky tonight I will tell you," he told his audience, noting that his pilot suggested the trip might not be a good idea. "But I'm glad we made it."

Trump's courtroom campaign appears successful so far, winning Iowa's caucuses by 30 percent. However, Haley poses a significant challenge in New Hampshire, where she has gained traction among the state's more moderate electorate.

The former U.N. Ambassador launched a statewide ad criticizing the prospect of a Trump-Biden rematch, describing them as "the two most disliked politicians in America" who were both being "consumed by chaos, negativity and grievances of the past."

Social media echoes Trump's claims

Supporters on social media echoed Trump's claim that Haley was relying on Democrats for support in the primary. Some accused of her being a part of the Democratic Party and asserted that the establishment favored her.

"Neocon Nikki is part of the Democrat Party," one posted on X (formerly Twitter).

"The establishment wants Nikki Hilary so bad," another wrote.

"Democrats definitely want Nikki Haley to win. Which means she can't be trusted?" someone else added.

"Even with gaming the system, she still only got 3rd," another quipped.