Nikki Haley Comment Confuses Steven Crowder, Candace Owens

Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has confused people online after she posted a comment to X, formerly Twitter.

Five 2024 Republican hopefuls took to the stage in Miami, Florida, on Wednesday night. The candidates—Haley, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, ex-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, South Carolina Senator Tim Scott, and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy—sparred over issues including federal spending, Ukraine and China.

The televised debate heated up after Ramaswamy lobbed an insult at Haley, the only female candidate on stage. He called Haley "Dick Cheney in three-inch heels" during a discussion over U.S. foreign policy. Haley responded: "They're five-inch heels. And I don't wear them unless you can run in them."

She took to X to elaborate, writing: "Vivek, I wear heels. They're not for a fashion statement—they're for ammunition."

However, her comment doesn't seem to have landed, with many people saying they don't understand what she means. These included conservative political commentators Candace Owens and Steven Crowder.

Newsweek reached out to representatives for Haley and Owens for comment via email Thursday and to Crowder via social media.

Owens re-shared Haley's post and added: "Can anyone tell me what on earth this is supposed to mean? What are heels for ammunition and why did she think this would be received as clever?"

Crowder simply wrote: "Huh?"

Other people replied to Haley with comments similar to those of Owens and Crowder. Even those who understood the context of Haley's post have said it still doesn't make sense, with some labeling it as "cringe."

"This is the weirdest comment ever," one person wrote.

"You thought you cooked, but nobody knows what you're saying," said another.

A third added: "I'm begging you, please stop using this line. It doesn't make sense."

However, some people on X have thrown their support behind Haley.

"If Nikki Haley is the Republican nominee, she will defeat Joe Biden in a landslide, in my opinion," one person said.

"When Nikki Haley speaks I start to recognize the Republican Party again," said another.

Ramaswamy's reference to former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney was part of the criticism of his rivals' foreign policy stance; which includes Haley supporting financing Ukraine in its war against Russia.

The entrepreneur sparked boos from the crowd when he made another personal attack against Haley. The former South Carolina governor has supported a ban on TikTok as it has come under scrutiny over national security concerns. Ramaswamy has been using the app for his campaign and when Haley pointed this out, he responded by saying that Haley's daughter previously used the social media platform.

Haley earned praise from people online for telling Ramaswamy: "Leave my daughter out of your voice."