- Haley accused DeSantis of hypocrisy for campaigning with Rep. Thomas Massie — who voted against a resolution condemning anti-Semitism on college campuses
- DeSantis joined Massie in headlining a pro-Second Amendment town hall in Iowa
- “You can't be pro-Israel and bring the most anti-Israel Republican to this state… And that's who he brought to your state,” Haley said Sunday in Iowa.
Nikki Haley says her 2024 rival Ron DeSantis isn't actually pro-Israel because he campaigned with Rep. Thomas Massie — the only Republican in the House of Representatives to vote against condemning anti-Semitism on college campuses.
She pointed out the hypocrisy after DeSantis and Rep. Massie (R-Ky.) headlined a pro-Second Amendment town hall-style campaign in Johnstown, Iowa, on Saturday.
“You can't be pro-Israel and bring to this state the most anti-Israel Republican who voted against combating anti-Semitism on college campuses,” Haley said during her own remarks in the Hawkeye State on Sunday.
“And that's who he brought to your state,” she told the crowd of supporters, just a month before the nation's first caucuses were set to take place.
Last week, Massie was the only Republican in the House of Representatives to vote against his party's resolution condemning anti-Semitism on college campuses.
“Nikki Haley is a brunette Liz Cheney,” Massie responded in a post to X on Monday morning. “She hates free speech as much as she hates war and foreign aid.”
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley accused 2024 rival Ron DeSantis of hypocrisy for being pro-Israel but campaigning with “the most anti-Israel Republican” Rep. Thomas Massie — who voted against a resolution condemning anti-Semitism on college campuses
Florida Governor DeSantis co-headlined a pro-Second Amendment town hall in Iowa this weekend with Rep. Massie (R-Ky.). Massie (left) has faced criticism for anti-Israel sentiments, including posting an anti-Semitic meme earlier this month
This isn't the first time Haley has been compared to the Wyoming Cheney family. Biotech entrepreneur called former UN ambassador 'Dick Cheney in three-inch heels' during debate in Miami, Florida in November.
Haley's latest comments came during a campaign event in suburban Des Moines as she and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis battle for second place behind former President Donald Trump.
Polls released Sunday show Haley rocketing to second place in the early primaries in New Hampshire — 18 percent ahead of DeSantis and just 15 percent behind Trump.
Her criticism of DeSantis is fueling the already contentious primary, with the two trailing Trump in several polls in Iowa.
Haley's campaign amplified the narrative against DeSantis, embracing “anti-Israel” lawmaker Haley.
“Ron DeSantis continues to brag about his campaign with the most anti-Israel Republican in Congress, Rep. Thomas Massie,” the campaign wrote in a statement about the recent debacle. “When asked about Massie's infamous record, DeSantis defended Massie.”
Massie responded to Haley's criticism by calling the 2024 hopeful a “brunette Liz Cheney,” which essentially means she's a RINO — or Republican in name only
The campaign noted that Massie has faced claims of anti-Israel sentiment in the past, including when he was sued earlier this month by the Republican Jewish Coalition for posting an anti-Semitic meme accusing his colleagues in Congress of embracing Zionism.
Meanwhile, DeSantis has repeatedly described himself as staunchly pro-Israel, saying during his campaign that it is more important for taxpayer dollars to support the Jewish state in its conflict with Hamas terrorists than sending more aid to Ukraine in its war with Russia.
DeSantis claims that Massie is against foreign aid to Israel, but is not anti-Israel in principle.
Haley's campaign says this isn't true and says DeSantis should “take a closer look at the record.”
“Massie routinely votes against recognizing Israel's right to exist, condemns anti-Semitism, cracks down on Iranian terrorism, criticizes the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement, and punishes terrorist organizations,” Haley's team wrote in an email on Monday. mail. “DeSantis ally Thomas Massie votes with the Squad on Israel and terrorism more often than he does with Republicans. None of this is related to foreign aid.”
Trump is the heavy favorite to win the first caucuses in Iowa on January 15. Last week, Trump emphasized during a speech in eastern Iowa that a blowout in the state would help him rally the party early in the 2024 vote.
It comes after polls show Haley overtaking the ex-president in New Hampshire.
“The margin of victory is very important, it's just very important,” Trump told his audience in Coralville, Iowa.