In a clunky and transparent attempt to position herself for a 2024 presidential run, former Trump devotee Nikki Haley has thrown her old boss under the bus.
The former UN ambassador sat down with Politico to talk about how she’s become, like, so “disgusted” by the ex-president, who she used to consider one of the greatest leaders, if not the greatest leader, in American history.
“We need to acknowledge he let us down,” she said. “He went down a path he shouldn’t have, and we shouldn’t have followed him, and we shouldn’t have listened to him. And we can’t let that ever happen again.”
That’s a far cry from what she said in 2019, when Trump told four Democratic members of Congress, all women of color, to “go back” to their countries, and Haley said she could “appreciate where he’s coming from.”
Or that other time in 2019, when she praised him on the Today show for being “truthful” and “great to work with” and that she “never had any concern on whether he could handle the job ever.”
Or that time at the 2020 RNC, when she complimented his exceptional leadership and called him “a godsend” to America.
Related: Nikki Haley’s Sunday lunch was completely ruined after she was heckled by gay people
In her interview with Politico, Haley also had harsh words to say about Trump’s attacks on her old buddy, the vehemently homophobic ex-VP Mike Pence.
“When I tell you I’m angry, it’s an understatement,” she said, referring to Trump calling Pence a coward for not defying the Constitution and then sending an angry mob to hang him. “Mike has been nothing but loyal to that man. He’s been nothing but a good friend of that man.”
She went on to say she is “so disappointed” by the way Trump treated Pence at the end of their four year working relationship.
“Like, I’m disgusted by it.”
As for Trump’s political future, Haley doesn’t think he has one.
“I don’t think he’s going to be in the picture,” she said. “I don’t think he can. He’s fallen so far.”
“I think he’s going to find himself further and further isolated,” she added. “I think his business is suffering at this point. I think he’s lost any sort of political viability he was going to have. I think he’s lost his social media, which meant the world to him.”
“I mean, I think he’s lost the things that really could have kept him moving.”
Last August, Haley was dragged on social media when she took to Twitter to blast the Popcorn Factory for not delivering popcorn to her nephew’s birthday party on time.
Ok @PopcornFactory two messed up birthday orders missed delivery dates with no explanation. First time I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Second one tells me not to buy from you again. #DisappointedNephew
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) August 10, 2020
Graham Gremore is the Features Editor and a Staff Writer at Queerty. Follow him on Twitter @grahamgremore.
Cam
She’s desperately trying to repair her image. As late as December she was defending Trump saying the election was rigged. Instead she blamed his lawyers and staff saying THEY should have done more to convince him.
amanwithanedge
she a nasty piglet.
Prowelsh56
As suggested a while back Nikki Haley will step back into the Political arena and now, here she is preparing.
Sarah Saunders already making a mark for Governor and the opposition throwing in the towel as they know she has the support of the Trump base.
So who is next? watch for Paul Ryan to next come out of the woodwork for the 2022 cycle.
They are ALL a bunch of deplorables but unless there are major changes in who/how can run, much of the same will ensue. For the most part it is the Elites monied folks backed by big business running the country. Do not need to be a rocket science to see it. Just have to want to see it.
Creamsicle
$10 says establishment Republicans like Haley distance themselves from Trump, but never condemn White Supremacy, never label white nationalist militias terrorist, and deflect every time the leniency shown to Capitol Assault terrorists is compared to the violence that BLM protesters receive.
Republicanism is dead and the party did it to themselves. They had decades to steer the party away from white resentment, but they chose to double down on identity politics instead. They played with fire and now it’s out of control and burning down the entire house.
JB
Wtf is a “complete 180”??? 180 degrees implies only half of a circle, so a “complete 180” makes no sense. Please, Queerty…you folks have got to get yourselves a copy editor who can assist with all of the misspellings and proofreading and accuracy checks.
Openminded
180 indicates she “turned away and is headed in the opposite direction”. 360 would indicate that she turned completely around and is still headed in the original direction which means she’s unchanged. (Which is probably the real truth)
Low Country Boy
Sorry, JB, but Openminded is entirely correct.
Openminded
Does she really think she can run for high office with this in her past? Hell, good people who have made much much smaller mistakes in judgement have fallen from grace and been canceled in the past. I’m a conservative but when you followed Trump’s bandwagon all the way to 1/06/2021, it’s too late to jump off and claim remorse in my book.
Low Country Boy
Openminded, I agree. I am from South Carolina (Charleston). I think she’s a little too late to the “Trump is wrong” party. That said, Mitt Romney is not. It galls me to say that, but it’s true.
Iona Lexiss
I have to agree with the multiple comments relating to ‘forget her,’ but I am so desperate to hear any Republican (esp. one that is sharp, bright and articulate) publicly voice something closer to truth and take a step toward the coherent part of the party that I’m willing, and eager, to give it a chance and listen. We have to start somewhere.
Openminded
I totally agree with you Iona. Problem is, by her being duped by the Trump deep believers, I can’t see her as “sharp or bright”. No matter which side of the aisle you lean towards, you have to think for yourself and speak out when your “leader(s)” begin to stray too far towards ridiculous