Donald Trump has lashed out at "Birdbrain" Nikki Haley after the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations won her first Republican primary in Washington, D.C.
The former president accused Haley, Trump's only serious challenger left in the GOP primary, of being a "loser" after she won Sunday's race by 62.8 percent to 33.2 percent.
The Context
Haley achieved a small but symbolic victory over Trump on Sunday, becoming the first woman to win a Republican primary in U.S. history.
Trump is still all but guaranteed to clinch the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, having won resounding victories in all the previous eight races. These include the Michigan primary and the Missouri and Idaho caucuses on Saturday, as well as Haley's home state of South Carolina in February.
What We Know
In a post on Truth Social, Trump attacked Haley over her previous performances in the primary season, including coming in third place behind Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucus.
Trump also downplayed the significance of Haley's win in Washington, D.C., which only awards 19 of the 1,215 delegates needed to clinch the nomination, while citing his recent victories.
"Birdbrain is a loser, record low performance in virtually every State. DeSanctus easily beat her in Iowa for a VERY DISTANT second place, and then she ran up to the podium, before he had a chance to do so, and claimed victory," Trump wrote.
"I enjoy watching the Bird disavow her PLEDGE to the RNC and her statement that she would NEVER run against President Trump ('A great President'). Well, she ran, she lied, and she LOST BIG!"
In a separate social media post, Trump added: "I purposely stayed away from the D.C. Vote because it is the 'Swamp,' with very few delegates, and no upside. Birdbrain spent all of her time, money and effort there. Over the weekend we won Missouri, Idaho, and Michigan—BIG NUMBERS—Complete destruction of a very weak opponent. The really big numbers will come on Super Tuesday. Also, WAY UP ON CROOKED JOE!"
Haley's office has been contacted for comment via email.
During the 2016 Republican primary, Trump came in third place in the District of Columbia race, receiving fewer than 14 percent of the vote and no delegates before going on to win the GOP nomination overall.
Views
Nikki Haley for President campaign spokesperson, Olivia Perez-Cubas, following Sunday's results said: "It's not surprising that Republicans closest to Washington dysfunction are rejecting Donald Trump and all his chaos."
Karoline Leavitt, the Trump campaign's press secretary, said: "While Nikki has been soundly rejected throughout the rest of America, she was just crowned Queen of the Swamp by the lobbyists and DC insiders that want to protect the failed status quo. The swamp has claimed their queen."
What's Next
Trump and Haley are set to take part in Super Tuesday on March 5, the busiest day of the primary calendar where 15 states and one U.S. territory will vote for who they want as the Republican presidential candidate.
Polls suggest that Trump will achieve clear victories in all the Republican races on Super Tuesday.
Uncommon Knowledge
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About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
