Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley has dismissed former President Donald Trump's barrage of attacks on her name and background, saying it shows that Trump feels threatened by her in the Republican primary.
During a CNN town hall, Haley was asked about a recent social media post by Trump in which he shared a conspiracy theory that Haley was ineligible to run for president and referred to her by her birth name, Nimrata.
The former South Carolina governor, whose parents are from India, said she was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, dispelling doubts about her ability to run for the White House.
“And to the haters, I know President Trump very well. That's what he does when he feels threatened. That's what he does when he feels unsafe,” Haley said. Ta. “I don't take these things personally. It doesn't bother me. I know him well, and this is what he's doing. I don't think I'm a threat. I know that's why he's doing this.”
Haley added: “I'm not going to say anything bad back at him.”
Mr. Trump has stepped up his attacks on Ms. Haley in recent days as attention turns to Tuesday's New Hampshire primary, where polls have shown Ms. Haley to be Mr. Trump's strongest rival.
Trump has a 10-point lead over Haley in the state, according to the Decision Desk average of New Hampshire polls.
The former president has criticized Haley's positions on Social Security and immigration, but has also made racist comments, including sharing a birth conspiracy and calling Haley “Nimrata” and “Nimbla” in social media posts. They have also added attacks. Because she focuses on her Indian heritage.
Trump rose to political prominence in part for promoting the false and racist claim that then-President Obama was not born in the United States. During the 2016 Republican primary, one of his then-rivals, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), claimed that he was not eligible to run for the White House because he was born in Canada.
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