In her latest tactical move, Nikki Haley has resurfaced some controversial statements made by Donald Trump.
Trump Mocking Veterans
The move, no doubt calculated as Haley intensifies her efforts to gain momentum in the lead-up to the South Carolina primary, comes in the form of a campaign ad. In it, she features previous comments made by Trump — comments that mocked veterans.
A 90-Second Ad
The ad, which is approximately 90 seconds long, was released following criticism from Trump directed at Haley’s husband.
Losers and Suckers
Haley’s husband is currently deployed with the military, but Trump mocked his absence from her campaign. Her retaliatory ad includes segments from news coverage highlighting Trump’s previous comments, including alleged remarks referring to soldiers who died as “losers” and “suckers.”
A South Carolina Rally
At a rally in South Carolina, Haley said: “Donald Trump had a rally today, and in that rally, he mocked my husband’s military service. And I’ll say this — Donald, if you have something to say, don’t say it behind my back.”
Get on a Debate Stage
“Get on a debate stage, and say it to my face,” she continued, evidently mocking Trump for his continued absence from GOP debates.
A Mental Competency Test
Haley went on to suggest the former President take a “mental competency” test: “I have long talked about the fact that we need to have mental competency tests for anyone over the age of 75.”
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment
“Donald Trump claims that he would pass that. Maybe he would, maybe he wouldn’t,” she continued. Trump once claimed he “aced” a mental test, but it turned out to be a simple assessment designed to identify early signs of conditions like Alzheimer’s. The test in question is known as the Montreal Cognitive Assessment.
Mocking the Service of a Veteran
After discussing mental competency tests, Haley circled back to the subject at hand: “But if you mock the service of a combat veteran, you don’t deserve a driver’s license, let alone being President of the United States.”
Other Controversial Statements
The ad doesn’t only discuss Trump’s “losers” and “suckers” remarks; it also delves into other veteran-related controversial statements from the former President’s past.
A Prisoner of War
It highlights his 2015 comment about then-Senator John McCain. “I like people who weren’t captured,” Trump said, mocking McCain for being a prisoner of war.
Admiral William McRaven
Additionally, the ad features Trump’s 2018 attack on retired Navy Admiral William McRaven, the commander responsible for overseeing the 2011 raid that led to the death of Osama bin Laden.
No Business Being Commander in Chief
Olivia Perez-Cubas, a spokesperson for Haley, released a statement. “Donald Trump has a long track record of insulting our veterans. He has no business being commander in chief,” she said.
Insulting to Military Families
Haley also discussed the matter on CBS. She talked about her husband, and she said that Trump’s remarks were “insulting to military families.”
Trying To Protect America
“This is about what it says to every military family who sacrifices alongside of them. We can’t have someone who sits there and mocks our men and women who are trying to protect America,” she said.
President Biden’s Response
President Biden also responded to Trump’s remark. On social media, he wrote: “The answer is that Major Haley is abroad, serving his country right now. We know [Trump] thinks our troops are ‘suckers,’ but this guy wouldn’t know service to his country if it slapped him in the face.”
Steven Cheung’s Statement
Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, spoke to The Hill about the situation. In his statement, he adamantly defended the former President and heavily criticized Haley.
No Bigger Fighter
“There has been no bigger fighter for our military men and women than President Trump,” Cheung boldly claimed before shifting the subject to Haley.
America Last Policies
He continued: “Nikki Haley likes to talk about her foreign policy chops, but bowing down to China and advocating for forever wars by sending our troops into unnecessary conflicts represent America Last policies she is so fond of.”
A Tactical Approach
The battle for the GOP nomination is intense, and this latest move by Haley perfectly highlights her targeted and tactical approach. Given the extent of Trump’s intense popularity, such calculated moves may be her only hope. Moreover, the high level of military support among Republican voters means her ad may well sway some minds.
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