Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley reacted to the news of a verdict in which former President Trump and his Republican rival were ordered to pay $83.3 million in a defamation lawsuit.
“Donald Trump wants to be the presumptive Republican nominee and we're talking about $83 million in damages. We're not talking about fixing the border. We're talking about $83 million in damages. We’re not talking about tackling inflation.” Hailey said in a post on X., the platform formerly known as Twitter. “America can do better than Donald Trump and Joe Biden.”
Haley's post came shortly after a federal jury in New York ordered President Trump to pay columnist E. Jean Carroll for defaming her, accusing him of sexually assaulting her in the 1990s.
This is the second time Trump has awarded Carroll damages, adding to a $5 million judgment from last year in which he found her liable for sexual abuse and defamation in separate comments.
The latest trial is intertwined with the Republican primary, which began the day after Trump won the Iowa caucuses and continues this week after his victory in New Hampshire. Trump, who was not required to attend, went out of his way to attend the trial instead of participating in the campaign.
Haley, the last candidate to challenge the former president, doubled down on the fight. After getting a coveted endorsement from Republican Gov. Chris Sununu and coming in second in polling New Hampshire, she said the fight is “not over yet.”
Haley and Trump will next face off in the South Carolina primary on February 24. In Haley's home state, where she previously served as governor, Trump is far ahead, the Hill/Decision Desk report said.
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