Nikki Haley, the 2024 GOP hopeful, has followed in the footsteps of Democrats and establishment GOP candidates, attacking former President Donald Trump’s handling of the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021.
Joined by Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on ABC on Sunday, Haley stated, “…when President Trump had the opportunity to stop it, when he had the opportunity say it — the bully pulpit matters, people listen — he didn’t. And I hate that for the people that were there supporting him. I hate that for those of us that were watching it.”
Referencing the Capitol riot, Haley called it a “terrible day,” emphasizing the importance of leadership in such situations with her comment that the “tone at the top matters.” As a response, she promised that her presidency would be one of “no drama, no vendettas, no whining”, which appears to be a subtle critique of Trump.
On the topic of Trump’s criminal charges, some relating to the events of January 6, Haley said she would abstain from direct involvement. She stated that immunity and legal decisions should be left to the courts, despite hinting in the past that she might support a pardon for Trump. Haley made it clear that her attention would be better spent on other matters saying, “It would be wasted energy for me to sit there and focus on court cases and not focus on how to win that room that we just left.”
