Former President Trump said Nikki Haley has “no chance” of winning the 2024 Republican nomination, telling Fox News' Sean Hannity in an exclusive sit-down interview Thursday that “MAGA will work with her.” I have no intention of doing so.”
After winning the Iowa caucuses on Monday night and solidifying his status as the front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, Trump is now setting his sights on what's next. new hampshire. Trump defeated his Republican opponent in 98 of 99 counties in Iowa and visited the Granite State this week. He attracted 20 delegates in the state.
Trump, who sat with Hannity in New Hampshire just days before the nation's first primary, is leading by double digits in polls in the Granite State. But some new polls show former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and his former ambassador to the United Nations doing well.
Former President Trump and Nikki Haley in New Hampshire (AP)
The Granite State's moderate voters hold sway, and the state's independent voters, who can vote in either major party's primary, have long played a key role in New Hampshire's famous presidential elections.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu endorsed Haley, but said in an interview with Fox News' Neil Cavuto that it was “concerning” that some Democratic voters were “switching” to independents to vote in the primary. “We should,” he said.
When asked if he was “concerned” about the system, President Trump answered, “I am.”
“And the governor should have done something about it,” Trump told Hannity. “Rather than waste time with Nikki because she's not going to make it. She has no chance, no way.”
Fox News' “Hannity” town hall in December featuring former President Trump drew 3.2 million total viewers. (Fox News Channel)
President Trump added, “MAGA is not going to join her.”
President Trump said the state system is “bad for us.”
“Who has a system that allows Democrats to vote in Republican primaries?” he asked. “And New Hampshire is a great place. I love the people.”
Trump, who won New Hampshire in both 2016 and 2020, said New Hampshire is “great” but needs “a system.”
“We need a governor who's not just going to talk, he's going to make a difference,” Trump said. “He's been talking about this for four years and it's never happened. So Democrats are allowed to vote and they're going to vote for her because they're running against me. I don’t want to, because I want to run against her.”
He added: “It's a very simple system.”
But even if a Democrat were to register as an independent in New Hampshire and vote for Haley, Trump said, “I don't think that would be an issue.”
Trump has an approval rating of 50% among likely voters in the January 23 New Hampshire primary, according to a daily poll released Thursday morning by Suffolk University, the Boston Globe, and NBC10 Boston. It has become.
Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, who served as U.N. ambassador in the Trump administration, has an approval rating of 36%, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has an approval rating of just 6%.
Latest poll shows Haley narrowly behind, giving Trump a double-digit lead in New Hampshire Republican presidential primary
In the same poll, 4% of respondents said they were “undecided” and 1% said they would support an entirely different candidate.
President Trump reflected on his presidency, including the years-long Russia investigation that clouded the start of his administration and his two impeachments, and both Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warned against the “onslaught” ahead. I won't be able to handle it.” Being the President of the United States.
“If I were a nicer person, I would say to Ron DeSantis or Nicki or anyone else, if they were in my position, if they were here, they would be the same. He would have been hit hard,” Trump said. “They play tough, much tougher than the Republicans play. Republicans have to be tougher.”
He added, “But Nikki, I know Nikki very well. She's worked for me for a long time. She won't be able to withstand that position. She will withstand the onslaught. You won't be able to do that,” he added.
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