MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace said on her “Deadline” show on Wednesday that “experts on religious groups and cults” need to explain former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley’s support for former President Donald Trump.
A partial transcription follows:
NBC reporter Vaughn Hilliard: “Donald Trump is everything I taught my kids not to do in kindergarten. I taught them not to lie and not to make things up,” Nikki Haley said in 2015. She ended up working in the Trump administration.
Wallace: Who are these people?!
HILLIARD: January 6th, she called it a “terrible day.” Then a few months later she said she wasn’t going to run against him for president. She ended up running for president. And Nikki Haley was mocked by Donald Trump for staying home while her husband was deployed with the U.S. military in Africa. And Nikki Haley’s words were very explicit about Donald Trump. [She] She said, “They were disgusting, awful, and insane,” adding, “Anyone who would make comments like that is unfit to be commander-in-chief.” Her husband fired back on social media, saying, “The difference between humans and animals is that animals will never allow the stupidest to lead the herd.”
His allies spread extramarital fair rumors about her. This is the person who suggested he might not even be eligible to run for president because his parents are immigrants. And I think her announcing today that she’s voting for Donald Trump is just another chapter in what we already went through eight years ago with Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio and others. She raised her hand during the Republican debate and said she would vote for a convicted felon if Donald Trump was convicted. And today, as proof that she is keeping her promise.
Director: It would take a shrink or cult expert to explain this. Because what you’re reporting doesn’t make any sense to me and it’s so recent. I mean, JD Vance said something similar in 2015. But it doesn’t make sense to me on a human level that she and her husband would publicly feud with him and support him just days or weeks ago.
Hillyard: I think it’s power. And I think in American politics, your access to power and the party you belong to determines your future. And I think there are a lot of people who have proven time and time again that staying closely associated with Donald Trump is a guarantee that they matter in politics if they choose to stay in politics.
Wallace: I can’t believe it. I can’t believe it.
Follow Pam Key on Twitter Follow
