Nikki Haley Takes Aim at Former President Trump and Other Republicans in First GOP Presidential Debate

At the first GOP presidential debate on Wednesday, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley made waves by taking a shot at former President Donald Trump and other Republicans for their voting records. Haley, one of the eight candidates to participate in the debate in Milwaukee, criticized Trump for adding $8 trillion to the national debt while in office. She also called out Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, and former Vice President Mike Pence for voting “to raise the debt.”

Haley’s words were welcomed by President Joe Biden, who praised her for speaking out against her fellow Republicans. GOP strategist Matt Mowers noted that none of the seven other candidates onstage felt the need to attack DeSantis, who had been a co-front-runner in the race just months ago.

A longtime DeSantis bundler said that major donors were watching to see how he performed in the debate. DeSantis’s performance was likely a factor in his falling from the co-front-runner position in the race.

The debate was the first of many for the Republican presidential candidates, and it has set the tone for the rest of the race. It remains to be seen how the candidates will respond to Haley’s criticism and how it will affect the race going forward.