Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley has intensified her criticism of former President Donald Trump over his disparaging comments about veterans, particularly targeting his mocking of service members. Haley, whose husband is serving a yearlong deployment in Africa, has condemned Trump's remarks as "disgusting" and launched a campaign highlighting his history of disrespectful comments towards veterans. As she seeks to gain momentum in the South Carolina GOP presidential primary, Haley has released an ad and ramped up her attacks on Trump, accusing him of lacking the character and fitness to lead. This escalating feud comes ahead of the pivotal Republican primary in South Carolina, where Haley is currently trailing Trump by a significant margin.
A new poll shows former President Trump leading the New Hampshire GOP presidential primary with 50% support, while Nikki Haley edges up to 36% and Ron DeSantis trails at 6%. Trump's lead over Haley is significant among conservatives, but Haley leads among moderate and liberal voters. Both Haley and DeSantis are vying to challenge Trump, with Haley emphasizing her momentum and DeSantis highlighting his second-place finish in Iowa. New Hampshire's primary is known for late deciders, but most voters have already made up their minds.
Former President Donald Trump and Nikki Haley, along with their allies, are engaging in a heated battle as the GOP presidential primary moves to New Hampshire. Trump's commanding lead has prompted his team to launch attacks against Haley, labeling her as a "Globalist RINO" and criticizing her policies. Meanwhile, Haley is framing the primary as a two-candidate race between her and Trump, with both sides intensifying their verbal assaults. The outcome of the New Hampshire primary is seen as crucial in determining the trajectory of the GOP nomination race.
GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley criticized former President Trump’s attorney for arguing that the assassination of political rivals is protected by presidential immunity, calling it "ridiculous" and emphasizing the need for common sense in evaluating presidential immunity. This comes after Trump's legal team argued that he should be shielded from prosecution in a special counsel's investigation. Haley has previously attacked Trump for the chaos following him and his candidacy, emphasizing the need for the country to move on from it.
Republican Governor Chris Sununu of New Hampshire has endorsed former ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley in the GOP presidential nomination race. Sununu's endorsement could potentially sway Republican voters, as well as independents and moderates who play an influential role in New Hampshire's crucial presidential primary. However, despite the endorsement, former President Donald Trump continues to hold a significant lead in the polls. Sununu's backing of Haley follows her recent endorsement by Americans for Prosperity Action, the political wing of the influential Koch Brothers' fiscally conservative network.
Former President Trump joined Fox News' "Hannity" for a town hall discussion, where he predicted that President Biden wouldn't be the Democrats' nominee in 2024, jokingly saying Biden would "fall over" if he blew on him. Trump also made headlines by stating that he would close the border and drill for oil on day one if he were to return to office, leading to accusations of dictatorship. He mocked Biden's claim that he wouldn't be running if Trump wasn't in the race and confidently declared that he would win Iowa. Trump also criticized Biden's criticism of the MAGA movement, stating that people want to see the country become great again.
South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, the only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, has suspended his campaign for the GOP presidential nomination after struggling to gain traction in the polls. Scott's message of upliftment and his focus on his personal success story did not resonate with today's Republican Party, which has shown a preference for Donald Trump's combative rhetoric. Scott did not endorse any other candidate and declined the suggestion of being a vice-presidential candidate. With two months until the first nominating contest in Iowa, Trump holds a wide lead, followed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley. Scott's departure highlights the difficulty of gaining traction in a race dominated by Trump.
Fox News Power Rankings for the 2024 GOP presidential primary name Chris Christie as the "wild card" candidate, targeting the non-Trump lane of voters. Governor Doug Burgum and former Governor Asa Hutchinson are categorized as "outsiders" who have not gained momentum after the first debate. The second debate, hosted by FOX Business and Univision, will take place on September 27th.
Billionaire and Citadel CEO Ken Griffin, a major Republican donor, has stated that he is currently sitting on the sidelines of the GOP presidential primary and not supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, whom he backed in 2022. Griffin expressed dissatisfaction with the alternatives to front-runner Donald Trump and has yet to decide who he will support. He believes that a younger, fresher candidate with a different tone is needed for both the Republican and Democratic parties. Griffin's decision not to contribute to the GOP primary means that one of the party's biggest contributors will not be financially supporting a candidate challenging Trump.
Former President Donald Trump has stated that he will not sign a pledge to support the Republican nominee if he loses the GOP presidential primary, defying a requirement for participating in the first debate. Trump questioned the need for the pledge, citing candidates he wouldn't support, but declined to name them. His refusal to sign suggests he plans to skip the debate, as he has previously suggested. Trump has pushed back against participating in the debate, claiming his substantial polling lead makes it unnecessary. Eight candidates have met the qualifications to be on stage, and candidates must also sign a statement pledging not to participate in unsanctioned debates or run as an independent or third-party nominee.
An anti-abortion rights group, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, criticized Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for not embracing a national abortion ban, after he failed to directly answer whether he would support such a ban in a recent interview. DeSantis pledged to be a "pro-life president" but emphasized the importance of state-level battles. The group called his dismissal of a federal ban unacceptable and stated that pro-life voters deserve a president who will advocate for protecting babies in the womb. DeSantis has signed a ban on abortions after six weeks in Florida but has not taken a clear position on a federal ban.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie criticized his GOP presidential primary opponent, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, for his response to the controversial new history standards adopted by the Florida Board of Education. Christie accused DeSantis of starting the controversy with the bill he signed and then avoiding responsibility for the aftermath. He also criticized the Republican Party for focusing on micromanaging curriculum instead of addressing more pressing issues like inflation and falling test scores. Christie's comments come as he campaigns to take former President Donald Trump out of the race.
Former President Donald Trump has privately expressed frustration with Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for remaining neutral in the GOP presidential primary, despite his past endorsement of her campaigns. Reynolds has made appearances alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is seen as Trump's top rival for the nomination. Trump believes Reynolds should endorse his 2024 bid as a way of repaying his support in her previous campaigns. Some of Trump's advisors feel Reynolds is secretly supporting DeSantis while claiming neutrality. Reynolds, however, denies that her initial election as governor was solely due to Trump's support.
