Rep. Ralph Norman, R-S.C., touted GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley’s “youth,” on Sunday and went after former President Trump’s age forward of this week’s New Hampshire primaries, highlighting moments when Trump named Haley as an alternative of former Home Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., whereas talking about Jan. 6 throughout a rally over the weekend.
Norman, one of many few elected officers from South Carolina backing former South Carolina Gov. Haley, appeared on “Fox Information Sunday,” stressing how Haley, at age 52, is 25 years youthful than the 77-year-old Trump. “His insurance policies have been nice. What he did was nice for the nation, significantly with what Biden is doing now,” Norman mentioned of Trump, explaining why he is now supporting Haley as an alternative. “However it’s time for a change – I believe the youth – Nikki simply turned 52. She’s 25 years youthful than Donald Trump.”
“I am sorry,” he continued. “When you could have a president, like, the pressures they are going to be going through, while you see what they are going to need to do to draw new expertise into the Congress, within the Senate, you have to go to work doing that. Nikki will try this. And, to the opposite huge factor that individuals have to know, Donald Trump can solely offer you 4 years. It is like a soccer group can solely play half of the sport. It is going to take eight years to get this nation straight. However Nikki’s youth and the actual fact is, she can provide eight years. And I’d additionally make the argument is de facto three years, as a result of the final yr of a time period is political, such as you’re seeing now. And President Trump goes to be tied up in, you realize, authorized fights.”
Norman argued that the one motive Trump is criticizing Haley now could be “as a result of she’s gaining within the polls and she or he, he is aware of, she is a severe risk. And it is a two-person race now.”
Trump has argued that with Haley as president, the nation would see eight years of warfare and has known as her a globalist.
TRUMP MIXES UP NIKKI HALEY WITH NANCY PELOSI AT NEW HAMPSHIRE RALLY
Nikki Haley and former President Trump have been each campaigning in New Hampshire over the weekend forward of the first. (Getty Photos | AP)
“That is simply political speak,” Norman mentioned, noting how Trump selected Haley to function U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. “Donald Trump is aware of that. The identical factor, you realize, he bought her confused yesterday with Nancy Pelosi on Jan. 6 with the Nationwide Guard. And I’d say 25 years in the past, he would not have made that mistake, however he stored saying, Nikki Haley did this, you realize, with the Nationwide Guard. He was speaking about Nancy Pelosi. And that is one other instance of, you realize, he would not have made that mistake if he was youthful.”
Trump, whereas referring to the crowds at a rally in Harmony, New Hampshire, Friday, introduced up Haley when mentioning the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol.
“By the way in which, they by no means report the group on Jan. 6, you realize, Nikki Haley. Nikki Haley, Nikki Haley, you realize, they did, you realize, they destroyed all the info and all the proof. All the pieces deleted it. Destroyed all of it. All of it as a result of plenty of issues – like Nikki Haley is in command of safety. We provided 10,000 folks, troopers, Nationwide Guard. So no matter they need, they turned it down. They do not wish to discuss that. These are very dishonest folks. However after I look over right here, I’m so honored. They mentioned this can be a quaint space, space of the state, but it surely’s quaint. We bought lots of people on this room, this an all time file,” Trump mentioned, prompting applause.
Trump has lengthy accused Pelosi of refusing Nationwide Guard assist on the Capitol a day earlier than the riot.
TRUMP: ALMOST EVERYBODY IN SOUTH CAROLINA HAS ENDORSED ME
But after the obvious mix-up, conservative voices on X championed the transfer.
“Trump simply bought the complete media to lastly admit Nancy Pelosi was in command of safety on Jan 6,” Jack Posobiec, senior editor of Human Occasions, wrote to his 2.4 million followers.
At one other rally Saturday in Manchester, New Hampshire, Trump pressured how, “nearly each politician from South Carolina is endorsing me,” whereas surrounded by South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, the state’s lieutenant governor and different senior statewide officers, together with the state’s legal professional basic, treasurer and Home speaker, in addition to U.S. Reps. Joe Wilson, William Timmons and Russell Fry on stage.
Campaigning elsewhere within the Granite State on Saturday, Haley had gone after Trump’s psychological health, pointing to remarks he made on Friday.
South Carolina Gov Henry McMaster factors towards former President Donald Trump throughout a marketing campaign occasion in Manchester, New Hampshire, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024. (AP Picture/Matt Rourke)
“They’re saying he bought confused, that he was speaking about one thing else, he’s speaking about Nancy Pelosi,” Haley mentioned Saturday, as she campaigned in Keene, New Hampshire. “He talked about me a number of occasions in that situation. The priority I’ve is – I’m not saying something derogatory – however while you’re coping with the pressures of the presidency, we will’t have another person that we query whether or not they’re mentally match to do that… We are able to’t.”
Talking at a Bloomberg Information discussion board on Saturday in Manchester, Haley marketing campaign supervisor Betsy Ankney referenced Haley’s remarks and mentioned Trump “made a reasonably obvious gaffe final night time.” “It’s a distinction with out a distinction. It’s Nikki and Nancy,” Trump marketing campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita mentioned to reporters Saturday night time. “What’s the distinction?”
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At his rally Saturday night time in Manchester, Trump mentioned he took a cognitive check and “aced it.”
A day earlier, Sen. Tim Scott, who ended his personal 2024 bid in November and was appointed to the Senate by Haley in 2012, endorsed Trump over Haley in a rousing call-and-response speech of his personal in New Hampshire. Since coming into the race practically a yr in the past, Haley has advocated for “psychological competency exams” for older politicians, a swipe at each Trump and President Biden. At age 81, Biden has drawn growing concern over his psychological and bodily health, even from members of his personal get together elevating eyebrows about his public appearances.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
