Republican front-runner Nikki Haley attacked former President Donald Trump on Sunday for remarks he made about her husband being deployed overseas rather of supporting her during her campaign, claiming he has developed a “pattern” of making fun of those who serve in the armed forces.
“We can’t have someone who sits there and mocks our men and women who are trying to protect America,” the former governor of South Carolina, who under Trump served as ambassador to the UN, said on CBS’s “Face the Nation.”
Trump questioned Michael Haley’s spouse, a commissioned officer in the South Carolina National Guard serving with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in the Horn of Africa, during his rally on Saturday in Conway, South Carolina.
Regarding Trump’s criticism, Haley told CBS, “It’s a pattern of chaos.” It’s a pattern of carelessness. It’s a habit of merely making statements that don’t advance America.”
She continued by saying that neither President Joe Biden nor President Trump ever “talk about themselves” in place of how they will benefit American citizens.
Haley further emphasized on Sunday that she is not taking offense at Trump’s remarks against her husband; rather, she believes he is “insulting” members of the armed forces and their families.
Haley also reaffirmed her support for NATO in the wake of Trump’s remarks that implied he wouldn’t defend those that don’t invest enough in defense.
Asserting that NATO “allows us to prevent war,” Haley chastised Trump for his friendship with Russia.
She remarked, “I deal with Russia every day.” “The last thing we ever want to do is side with Russia.”
Haley reiterated her demand on Sunday for mental fitness testing for prospective presidential candidates, claiming that individuals “get diminished” when they reach the ages of 81-year-old Joe Biden and 77-year-old Donald Trump.
At 52, Haley is considerably younger than the other candidates. “These are people making decisions on our national security, these are people making decisions on the future of our economy,” she stated. “We need to know they’re at the top of their game.”