In a surprising turn, former President Donald Trump emerged victorious in South Carolina’s Republican primary, defeating Nikki Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, in her home state. Trump secured an impressive 59.8 percent vote, leaving Haley with a 39.5 percent share. Despite the odds against her, Haley remained resilient, refusing to bow out of the race.
Following her loss, Nikki Haley became the target of ridicule from the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement. Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz, known for his influence within the movement, mockingly commented, “There’s nothing that screams ‘winner’ quite like losing your home state primary by more than 20 points, especially after spending far more than your opponent.” Collin Rugg, co-founder of the conservative platform Trending Politics, described Haley’s determination to stay in the race as “an astonishing level of denial.” Additionally, the widespread MAGA-affiliated Twitter handle Catturd, which boasts over 2.4 million followers, took a swipe at her, saying, “Wish I could make fun of Nikki Haley’s supporters right now, but it seems they’re nowhere to be found.”
Despite the criticism, Nikki Haley found support among some quarters. Akash Chougule, Vice President of the think tank Americans for Prosperity, praised her efforts, remarking, “Nikki Haley once again exceeded expectations while Trump fell short. His weakness with crucial swing voters in the general election and even among Republicans could harm the party’s chances in down-ballot races. GOP voters across all states need to be presented with a different vision. Nikki Haley should continue pushing forward.”
During his victory speech, ten minutes after the polling stations closed, Trump shared his astonishment and joy over the results, stating, “This has happened a bit earlier than we expected. And the victory is even MORE SIGNIFICANT than we hoped for. I’ve just been told that we’ve secured twice the number of votes than has ever been achieved in the great state of South Carolina before. That’s quite an achievement, essentially setting a new record by doubling the previous one.”
Remaining faithful to her word, Haley addressed her supporters in a speech on Saturday night, stating, “I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president. I’m a woman of my word.”
The result of South Carolina’s Republican primary has undoubtedly left a mark on both Haley and the MAGA movement. As the presidential race intensifies, how these developments will shape the political landscape remains to be seen.
