Not for the first time, and certainly not for the last, President Trump is being attacked by neocons and the leftist media for something he said.
Speaking at a rally on Saturday afternoon, Trump questioned the whereabouts of Nikki Haley’s husband, Michael Haley — a National Guardsman who is currently deployed overseas.
Here’s the clip, so you can watch for yourself:
Trump on Haley: Where's her husband? Oh, he's away. He's away! What happened to her husband? What happened to her husband. Where is he? He's gone. pic.twitter.com/EeifanSxiF
— Acyn (@Acyn) February 10, 2024
For some additional context, Trump’s comments about Haley’s husband were part of a story about her visiting him at Mar-a-Lago and promising her loyalty to never run against him.
His full statement:
“Then she comes over to see me at Mar-a-Lago. ‘Sir, I will never run against you.’ She brought her husband. Where’s your husband? Oh, he’s away. He’s away. What happened to her husband? What happened to her husband? Where is he? He’s gone! He knew. He knew.”
Whether Trump knows Michael Haley is currently deployed is unclear.
However, the left-wing media was quick to jump on this to criticize Trump, with headlines like this one from The New York Times:
Leftists started spreading the soundbite of Trump like wildfire online, slamming Trump for mocking Haley and implying he is somehow anti-military, while also attacking his wife, Melania.
Just take a look at all the vitriol:
“Where is he?!” Donald Trump is a horrible, disgusting person. He mocks Nikki Haley’s husband for not being with her on the campaign trail. Note: Nikki Haley’s husband is in the military and is currently deployed overseas. It should also be noted that Trump’s wife Melania has not… pic.twitter.com/7JxkTWuTcf
— Mike Sington (@MikeSington) February 10, 2024
https://twitter.com/SwissWatchGuy/status/1756407422724231669
Hey Schmuck! Nikki Haley's husband is serving his country overseas. He's in Africa right now. But I guess we can't expect President I Like Solders Who Weren't Captured to appreciate that. #trumprally #conway #Trump pic.twitter.com/FBaWfBadOt
— Randall Winston (@randall_wins) February 10, 2024
Trump going after Nikki Haley’s husband for being away on military duty is just another example of his disgusting personal attacks.
If he wants to talk about the Haley affair allegations, then he should do so instead of going after her husband.
— Cryptid Politics (pro-DeSantis) 🇺🇸🐊 (@CryptidPolitics) February 10, 2024
However, many patriots sprang to President Trump’s defense.
Social media users pointed out the hypocrisy of the criticizing of Trump over this…when it’s neocon Nikki pushing for endless war.
Trump is the one calling for troops to come home
Neotards trying to attack it just look dumb
You are the ones splitting families apart for deployments https://t.co/mDKR8SWFoX
— Jack Poso 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) February 11, 2024
Tired of seeing neocons try to dunk on Trump for this comment, as if it makes Trump “anti-veteran” or “anti-military” because Nikki Haley’s husband is some field grade officer (who probably pushed vaccine mandates) in the National Guard.
Trump’s not the one advocating for… https://t.co/b3aluLdOob
— BowTiedRanger (@BowTiedRanger) February 11, 2024
This is the clip the left and Nikki Haley’s people cannot stop sharing. Their focus is not on what Trump said first, but on what he said last, because her husband is currently deployed. Trump said, “Where is her husband? He’s away, he’s gone.” Is this a big deal? pic.twitter.com/VUdLeq8zW0
— Simon Ateba (@simonateba) February 10, 2024
Zachery Henry pointed out that Trump was only asking the same question the NYT asked a week ago…
Trump asked the exact same question the New York Times asked last week. The faux outrage is so over the top and lame 🙄 https://t.co/i1TJw97YOy pic.twitter.com/gDlsEAvhME
— Zach Henry (@zhenryaz) February 11, 2024
Nikki Haley responded with her own attack of Trump on X:
Michael is deployed serving our country, something you know nothing about. Someone who continually disrespects the sacrifices of military families has no business being commander in chief. https://t.co/AfN3u4AsJc
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 10, 2024
Here’s how CNN reported on Trump’s remarks:
Former President Donald Trump used a rally in South Carolina on Saturday to attack rival Nikki Haley in her home state — and to mock the absence of her husband, who is deployed overseas.
“Where’s her husband? Oh, he’s away. … What happened to her husband? Where is he? He’s gone,” Trump said at his rally in Conway, his first visit to the state this year.
Michael Haley is deployed in Africa with the South Carolina Army National Guard in support of the United States Africa Command, his second active-duty deployment overseas.
“Michael is deployed serving our country, something you know nothing about. Someone who continually disrespects the sacrifices of military families has no business being commander in chief,” Haley said in a post on X later Saturday.
Notably, former first lady Melania Trump has not joined her husband for any public campaign events since his presidential announcement in November 2022 and has not appeared alongside him at any of his court appearances.
Following overwhelming victories in four early presidential nominating contests, Donald Trump has become more emboldened by his staying power as the GOP front-runner. The former president and his campaign are more confident than ever that he will clinch enough delegates by mid-March to declare him the presumptive Republican nominee over former South Carolina Gov. Haley — months before the GOP national convention in July, multiple Trump campaign advisers told CNN.
Trump’s South Carolina stop came on the heels of a busy few days of travel. He appeared in Nevada on Thursday to declare victory in the state’s GOP caucuses before traveling to Pennsylvania, where he addressed a friendly crowd at a National Rifle Association forum Friday.
Thursday saw several positive developments for Trump, including the gift of new campaign fodder against President Joe Biden following the release of a searing special counsel report. While the report didn’t recommend charges against Biden, it included damning language about his mishandling of classified documents and raised concerns about his memory and age.
Also Thursday, the Supreme Court appeared primed to side with Trump and dismiss an attempt in Colorado to declare him an insurrectionist and remove him for the state’s presidential ballot.
Haley has insisted she plans to stay in the race through her home state’s February 24 primary and beyond — buoyed by her enduring fundraising prowess. But Trump and his team view the Palmetto State primary as the place they will deliver the final blow to his last-standing major rival.
Fox News also gave their take on the story:
Former President Donald Trump mocked fellow Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley during a speech Saturday by asking why her husband hasn’t been on the campaign trail — even though he is deployed.
ADVERTISEMENTMichael Haley, who serves in the South Carolina Army National Guard, began his year-long deployment to Africa in June. He serves as a staff officer with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.
Trump was seemingly unaware of his deployment when he started questioning his whereabouts during a campaign stop in Conway, South Carolina, on Saturday.
The former president began his rant by calling Haley a “birdbrain.”
“Birdbrain loves mass asylum,” Trump said, prompting laughter from the audience. “There’s nothing nice about her.”
What do you think?
Is the media blowing Trump’s words out of proportion?
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