President Biden defended Nikki Haley against attacks from former President Donald Trump over her husband’s absence from the campaign trail.
At a rally in Conway, South Carolina on Saturday, Trump spoke about Maj. Michael Haley, “What happened to her husband? Where is he? He has gone! He know.”
“The answer is that Major Haley is overseas, serving his country right now. We know he thinks our military is ‘sick,’ but this man wouldn’t know service to his country if it slapped him in the face,” Biden posted on X Sunday.
Last June, Michael Haley began a year-long deployment with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade to the Horn of Africa.
Trump has weathered similar annoyances about former First Lady Melania Trump’s rare public appearances on the campaign trail.
He explained that he was absent in attention to tend to his ailing mother, who died last month at the age of 78. Melania appeared at Mar-a-Lago Saturday afternoon.
Donald Trump wants Nikki Haley to quit so he can focus on President Biden. AP Last June, Nikki Haley’s husband Michael Haley began a year-long deployment. AP
Michael Haley quickly fired back at Trump, posting a wolf meme that said, “Difference between humans and animals? Animals will not allow the stupidest to lead the pack.”
Nikki Haley served as Trump’s US ambassador to the UN from 2017 to 2018.
“Michael was assigned to serve our country, something you know nothing about. A person who always disrespects the sacrifices of military families has no business being the commander-in-chief,” he replied on X Saturday.
The former South Carolina governor also used the dust-up with Trump to renew his call for him to take on him on the debate stage.
“Get on the debate stage and say it to my face,” he scoffed.
Trump has been increasingly irritated by Haley’s refusal to drop out of the 2024 Republican race for the presidency, given her landslide victory and lead in the polls.
Haley hopes her home state of South Carolina, where she served as governor from 2011 to 2017, can help her rally against her.
The Republican Party in South Carolina is scheduled for February 24.
In addition to his comments about Michael Haley, Trump also drew attention for questioning the US’s commitment to NATO countries that are not fulfilling their obligations.
Michael was commissioned to serve our country, something you don’t know. Someone who continues to disrespect the sacrifices of military families has no business being a commander in chief. https://t.co/AfN3u4AsJc
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 10, 2024
“I said, ‘Everybody’s going to pay.’ They said, ‘If we don’t pay, will you still cover us?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ They couldn’t believe the answer,” Trump reflected on his presidency during the rally.
He later claimed that “one of the presidents of a major country” asked him if the US would protect them from Russia if they “didn’t pay.”
“No, I’m not going to protect you,” Trump recounted. “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay. You have to pay your bills.”
Trump has been a big supporter of NATO members meeting their obligation to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on national defense.
In 2022, only seven of the then 30 NATO member states will meet the 2% threshold, according to its annual report released last year. Finland has since joined the alliance, bringing its membership up to 31.
President Biden has previously been angered by his predecessor’s comments against veterans. Reuters
The White House slammed Trump for thinking about letting Russia attack NATO allies.
“Encouraging the invasion of our closest allies by a murderous regime is appalling and unconscionable — and it endangers America’s national security, global stability, and our economy at home,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said, according to the Associated Press.
“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at greater risk,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in response to Trump’s remarks.
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
