Carville blasts 'spineless' Nikki Haley for supporting Trump

Democratic strategist James Carville on Sunday blasted former GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley as “spineless” for supporting former President Trump’s bid for president.

He pointed to Haley’s Sunday morning interview on CBS Information’s “Face the Nation,” the place she laid out a powerful case for supporting Taiwan however stood by her endorsement of the previous president, regardless of his past indications that he won’t defend Taiwan if obligatory.

“I noticed Nikki Haley on one other community this morning. Oh my God. And he or she was speaking about how a lot she liked Taiwan, and [the anchor] identified that Trump stated, ‘Nicely, I don’t care about Taiwan. It’s 6,500 miles away. Let China do what it desires,’” Carville stated, paraphrasing Trump’s previous feedback, in an interview on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki” on Sunday.

“After which she began speaking about Afghanistan,” Carville continued. “Does that girl have any braveness in any respect? As a result of if she does, it’s not notably evident to anyone.”

“I don’t know if she’s extra spineless or gutless, however one of many two actually apply to her,” he added.

Trump, in a Bloomberg interview this previous summer season, indicated he thought Taiwan ought to pay the US for cover, saying, “They’re immensely rich,” and, “I don’t assume we’re any completely different from an insurance coverage coverage.”

“Taiwan is 9,500 miles away. It’s 68 miles away from China,” Trump stated within the July interview.

Haley was requested about Trump’s Taiwan feedback within the interview that aired Sunday and stated she agreed with him that the U.S. doesn’t have to ship troops to Taiwan however advocated for serving to the nation “economically, militarily, diplomatically” as a lot as potential.

Pressed on whether or not she agrees with Trump’s suggestion that Taiwan ought to be paying the U.S. for cover, Haley stated, “No, and I’ll be the primary one to say that’s not the way in which it ought to be.”

“There aren’t any excellent administrations right here, by any means, however Trump was undoubtedly stronger when it got here to nationwide safety, versus the Harris administration,” Haley stated within the interview.

Carville’s criticism of Haley got here in a bigger dialog concerning the significance of the Harris endorsements this week from former Vice President Dick Cheney (R) and former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who additionally beforehand served because the third-highest rating Home Republican, earlier than she was ousted for talking out in opposition to Trump’s 2020 election lies.

Haley ran a bitter major problem to Trump’s 2024 bid, and a few had been shocked when she got here out to endorse the previous president. She was extremely crucial of Trump on the marketing campaign path and has comparable overseas coverage views to the Cheneys.

“Liz and Vice President Cheney’s endorsement, and a bunch of others, I believe it should give license to some conventional Republicans, most likely extra overseas areas, you understand, who don’t love Trump that by no means voted for a Democrat [to say], ‘Nicely, okay, I can do that,’” Carville stated. “And it is not going to be an enormous variety of individuals, nevertheless it has a possible to be very useful.”

“I believe there are individuals who say, ‘Man, I gotta maintain my nostril. I don’t know if I can do that. And, oh, rattling, Dick Cheney’s doing it. I suppose I can,” Carville added. “And I believe that is essential, and he does not equivocate.”

The Hill has reached out to Haley’s group for a response.