Former President Donald Trump mocked opponent Nikki Haley for not having her husband by her side – ignoring the fact that he is serving in the military overseas.
Speaking at a rally in Conway, South Carolina on Saturday, Trump took a jab at Haley while recounting a meeting with the former Palmetto State governor at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.
“Then he came to see me at Mar-a-Lago. ‘Sir, I will never fight you.’ She brought her husband. where is your husband Oh, he’s gone,” Trump said.
“He gone. What happened to her husband? What happened to her husband? Where is he? He has gone! He know. He knows,” Trump said.
Maj. Michael Haley, a commissioned officer with the South Carolina National Guard, is currently on a one-year deployment with the 218th Maneuver Enhancement Bridge, which provides support in the Horn of Africa. He was deployed in June.
Shortly after Trump’s remarks, Haley responded while speaking to voters at a campaign stop in Gilbert, South Carolina.
“I am proud of Michael’s service. Every military spouse knows it’s a family sacrifice. … If you mock the service of a combat veteran, you don’t deserve a driver’s license, let alone the president of the United States,” Haley said, NBC News reported.
Haley fired back at the former president and challenged him to a debate. AP Trump questioned the whereabouts of Michael Haley at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday. RANDALL HILL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
“Donald, if you have something to say, don’t say it behind my back. Go to the debate stage and say it in front of me,” he said.
Haley also slammed Trump on social media.
“Michael was deployed to serve our country, something you don’t know,” Haley tweeted. “Someone who constantly disrespects the sacrifices of military families has no business being commander-in-chief.”
Michael Haley is currently stationed in Africa. AP
Michael Haley also appeared to throw shade at the former president, tagging him in a tweet with a meme that reads: “Difference between humans and animals? Animals will not allow the stupidest to lead the pack.”
Trump also on Saturday claimed that he warned NATO allies if they did not pay their dues to the military alliance, that he would “encourage” Russia “to do whatever they want” to them.
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The 45th president delivered the story while boasting about his negotiating skills.
“One of the presidents of a major country stood up and said, ‘Okay sir, if we don’t pay and we get attacked by Russia, are you going to protect us?'” Trump said. “I said, ‘You don’t pay? Are you delinquent?’ He said, ‘Yeah, let’s say that happens.’ No, I will not protect you. In fact, I will encourage them to do whatever they want.”
It’s unclear if that conversation ever took place or if Trump ever intended to follow through on the threat.
Trump has long been vocal about his displeasure with NATO member states not paying their fair share, leaving the United States to foot the bill.
Haley and Trump will face off in the South Carolina primary on February 24, where Trump, the clear GOP frontrunner, looks to defeat Haley in his home state and record his fourth straight or caucus win.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
