Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley made waves Tuesday on Fox News as she offered both praise and pointed critiques of Donald Trump’s campaign strategy in the closing days of the 2024 election. Speaking with host Bret Baier, Haley initially endorsed Trump while criticizing the Biden administration, but her remarks took a critical turn that resonated with many observers, especially supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris.
Haley began by underscoring her support for Trump, highlighting what she saw as significant failings under President Biden’s leadership. “We’ve had four years of record inflation,” she said. “We’ve had unconscionable amounts of illegal immigrants.” Reaffirming her support, Haley added, “You don’t have to agree with Trump 100 percent of the time to vote for him.”
However, Haley soon shifted her focus to Trump’s current campaign messaging, which she argued was not as inclusive or disciplined as it should be to secure a broad base of voters. “It has got to be a story of addiction,” Haley said. “This is not a time to have anyone criticize Puerto Rico or Latinos, this is not a time for them to get overly masculine with this bromance thing that they’ve got going.”
Haley’s statement was seen by many as a critique of the Trump campaign’s tone, suggesting that it could alienate key voter demographics. As a former South Carolina governor and presidential contender herself, Haley continued her critique, particularly regarding Trump’s appeal to women voters. She stressed that women care deeply about the issues and are critical to any candidate’s success.
“This is a time of discipline, and this is a time of addition,” she added, reiterating her call for Trump to refine his messaging. Haley’s comments sparked an immediate reaction on social media, with prominent supporters of Vice President Kamala Harris taking note. Ammar Moussa, director of rapid response for the Harris-Walz campaign, took to X (formerly Twitter) to post, “Nikki Haley is absolutely TRASHING the Trump campaign right now on Fox.”
CNN’s Abby Phillip echoed this sentiment, noting, “Once again Nikki Haley uses her appearance on Fox to criticize the Trump campaign strategy.” Others joined in, interpreting Haley’s comments as a pointed indictment of Trump’s strategy. Aaron Parnas, a Washington attorney and strategist, added, “Nikki Haley trashing the Trump campaign is my favorite pastime.”
USA Today columnist Rex Huppke humorously commented, “Nikki Haley keeps seeing the exit ramps and then just blows right by them.” Supporters of the Harris campaign were quick to emphasize Haley’s words in their critique of Trump’s outreach strategy. James Singer, a rapid response adviser for the Harris-Walz campaign, wrote, “Donald Trump did more outreach to the Proud Boys in 2020 than he has to @NikkiHaley voters in 2024,” underscoring what they saw as a missed opportunity for Trump to connect with more moderate conservatives.
However, not everyone saw Haley’s appearance as solely critical. Disgraced former Rep. George Santos (R-NY) praised her comments, posting, “Ambassador @NikkiHaley just hit EVERY nail on the head during her Bret Baier on Fox News!” Haley’s pointed but measured critique highlights her ongoing balancing act between supporting Trump as the GOP nominee and distinguishing herself as a thoughtful critic within the Republican Party.
In her remarks, Haley emphasized a message of inclusivity and discipline, underscoring that an effective campaign should avoid divisive language and reach out to broader demographics. With Election Day nearing, Haley’s statements reflect a growing sentiment among some Republicans that Trump’s campaign could benefit from recalibrating its approach in the final days.