Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) stepped up her criticism of former President Donald Trump ahead of the pivotal South Carolina primary next week. Trump’s primary opponent accused him of being in mental decline, calling it a “fact.”
“He is not what he was in 2016. He has declined,” Haley said on Tuesday. “That is a fact.”
The former governor also cited Trump’s recent statement that she, not former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) was in charge of security at the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 protest.
She also highlighted the role of age in the 2024 race.
“Are we really in this country going to have two 80-year-olds running for president?” she said. “It is a fact that when you are their age you have mental decline. I don’t care who you are.”
Haley said that if either the Democratic or Republican Party chooses a leader from a new generation, that party will win.
Haley also released a recent social media post highlighting both Trump and President Joe Biden’s age.
The candidate also posted a faux Halloween costume on social media calling the former president the “weakest general election candidate ever.”
Democrats are ecstatic about the prospect of running against Donald Trump. They couldn’t dream up a worse general election candidate if they tried. Between his legal drama, his terrible poll numbers, and his confusion, Trump will hand Democrats a big victory. pic.twitter.com/mhWbeA6CxO
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 1, 2024
The package highlights the $50 million in legal fees paid by Trump and accuses him of having “terrible poll numbers.” The post also accuses Trump of going off on “social media rants” and “temper tantrums.”
“Democrats are ecstatic about the prospect of running against Donald Trump,” Haley wrote. “They couldn’t dream up a worse general election candidate if they tried. Between his legal drama, his terrible poll numbers and his confusion, Trump will hand Democrats a big victory.”
Trump has also increased his criticism of the former governor, saying that she is “almost a radical left Democrat.”
He also said that anyone who contributes to the former South Carolina governor’s campaign would be disallowed from his MAGA movement.
Trump currently holds a substantial lead over Haley in state and national polls after his significant wins in both Iowa and New Hampshire.
“It’s time to finish this,” said the former president at a Nevada event.