2024 presidential candidate Nikki Haley blasted former President Donald Trump‘s spending habits while comparing their policy differences.
“He thinks Jan. 6 was a beautiful day. I think Jan. 6 was a terrible day,” Haley said in an interview with Axios. “He spent like a drunken sailor. I am an accountant and I think that we have to get our debt under control, and we’ve got to stop this ridiculous spending that’s caused the inflation we’ve got.”
UP FOR DEBATE: WHERE TRUMP, DESANTIS, AND REST OF REPUBLICAN 2024 FIELD STAND ON KEY ISSUES
Haley said she has “no reason” to pick a personal fight with Trump, who is the front-runner in the GOP presidential race. The former president is leading with 54.2% of the vote, as Haley continues ranking fifth nationwide — sometimes tying for second or third place in state polls, like South Carolina.
“I had a great working relationship with him in the administration. Do we differ on policies? Yeah, we do. If that comes up, I’m happy to say it. But I’m not Trump-obsessed. I’m just not. I don’t think you have to punch him all the time,” Haley said.
Trump has made headlines once again for being indicted for a third time on Aug. 1 by special counsel Jack Smith for efforts to overturn the 2020 election and the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Polling has shown that indictments have had little to no effect on Republican voters when asked who they will support in the primary election and at times increased support in Trump’s favor.
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However, Haley said that she is not concerned about the impact of the former president’s recent indictment on the GOP voter base. She said she didn’t even rush to release a statement on the recent Jan. 6 indictment because she is, “tired of responding to all the Trump drama.”
“I’m not diving into every one of these indictments. I don’t obsess over it. In all of these town halls, no one is asking me about Trump. Nobody’s asking me about indictments,” Haley said.
