Nikki Haley fired a shot at her former Republican presidential rival Vivek Ramaswamy on Thursday after he criticized the “mediocrity” in American culture.
Ramaswamy sparked criticism on social media after he defended the process of bringing migrant workers to the United States, arguing that popular culture and television in the 1990s made it difficult for Americans to raise hardworking and prosperous children.
“A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the Math Olympiad champion, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers,” he wrote.
That comment angered Haley, Trump’s former ambassador to the United Nations, who seemed to delight in tearing Ramaswamy apart over his comment.
“There’s nothing wrong with American workers or American culture,” Haley says wrote. “All you have to do is look at the border and see how many people want what we have. We need to invest and prioritize Americans, not foreign workers.”
Ramaswamy and tech billionaire Elon Musk, the current appointed leaders of newly-elected President Donald Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), found themselves on the anti-MAGA side of a debate over immigration.
They sparked a “MAGA civil war” because they advocated bringing in foreign workers on H1-B visas to provide tech companies with more skilled workers.
Haley’s comment drew praise from MAGA supporters of more restrictive immigration policies in favor of American workers.
The first time Nikki Haley is right about something wrote Vince Dao on social media. ‘Her post is completely disingenuous and probably only does it because she hates Vivek, but in substance I agree with her statement.’
Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley enjoyed taking on her former political rival Vivek Ramaswamy
“Holy sh**,” Philip Anderson added on X. ‘Nikki Haley is making more of an America First statement than Vivek.’
“Never thought I’d see a day where I’d agree with Nikki Haley, but here we are.” added Julie from the Millennialergy X account.
Ramaswamy argued that too much emphasis was placed on television programs that “promoted mediocrity” in the United States and that parents should focus on “fewer sleepovers,” “fewer Saturday morning cartoons,” “less chilling” and “hanging out at the mall ‘. ‘
“If you grow up striving for normalcy, then normalcy is what you will achieve,” he added.
Ramaswamy and Haley clashed frequently during the 2024 presidential primaries over issues such as national security and social media policy.
“Every time I hear you, I feel a little dumber,” Haley told Ramawamy during a primary debate.
Former biotech executive Vivek Ramaswamy during a Republican primary debate
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley looks on as fellow businessman candidate Vivek Ramaswamy passes by.
Ramaswamy pointed out that Haley attacked him for using Chinese social video platform TikTok while her own daughter used the app.
‘[Y]Maybe you want to take care of your family first,” he said during the debate.
“Leave my daughter out of your vote,” Haley shot back. “You’re just scum.”
Ramaswamy attacked that Haley was “corrupt” for taking money from big money donors, and held up a sign reading “Nikki = Corrupt.”
He also attacked Haley as a foreign policy warmonger.
“Do you want a leader from a different generation who is going to put this country first, or do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels?” he asked the debate audience.
After one debate, Haley suggested that Ramaswamy had a problem with female leaders, citing his frequent attacks.
“I’m not going to say anything, but he might have a girl problem,” she said. “I’m just saying he might have a girl problem.”