Nikki Haley, the former United States ambassador to the United Nations and South Carolina governor, criticized Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy and his leadership style Saturday at the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual meeting.
Haley, in a notable departure from her previous stance, criticized Trump for his affinity for foreign autocrats and his chaotic leadership style.
She warned that his approach could pose a significant threat to the country and brought up Trump’s remarks that drew outrage for criticizing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and calling Hezbollah a “very smart” group a few days after Hamas attacked.
Haley also brought up Trump’s continuous exaltation of North Korea’s and China’s despotic leaders.
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“Eight years ago, it was good to have a leader who broke things,” Haley said. “But right now, we need to have a leader who also knows how to put things back together.”
The GOP’s stance on foreign policy remains a contentious issue.
While some Republicans echo Trump’s unconventional approach, traditionalists like Haley argue for a return to longstanding Republican foreign policy ideologies.
The Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual meeting served as the backdrop for these unfolding debates. This influential group of Jewish Republicans listened as presidential candidates presented their views on key issues, especially related to Israel.
Trump did not directly respond to Haley’s remarks but instead touted his record in the White House, promising to restore “peace through strength” if elected again.
Trump said, “I’m proud to be the best friend that Israel has ever had.”
His remarks were met with applause, demonstrating his enduring popularity.
The Republican candidates uniformly backed Israel’s offensive against Hamas. Their united front on this issue contrasts with their divided opinions on American support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion.
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Despite Haley’s critique, Trump continued to praise autocratic leaders like Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He asserted that his presidency had earned respect from countries like China and Russia.
“China respected us. Russia respected us. Everybody respected us. Under my presidency, our country was very, very feared and very, very respected,” Trump responded.
The candidates pledged strong support for Israel and blamed President Joe Biden’s administration for failures in handling antisemitism and the ongoing issues with Iran.
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