Former President Donald Trump suggested that Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina hates Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley because he didn’t endorse her even though they’re from the same state.
“Did you ever think that she actually appointed you, Tim?” Mr. Trump said Tuesday in a speech after winning the New Hampshire GOP primary. “And you’re the senator of her state. You must really hate her.”
His comment referred to Mr. Scott suspending his own presidential campaign in November and endorsing Mr. Trump over the weekend. Ms. Haley is a former governor of South Carolina.
Mr. Scott was standing behind Mr. Trump when the former president spoke. The senator stepped up to the mic and said, “I just love you.”
Ms. Haley‘s campaign shot back with a statement pointing out that “Donald Trump barely received half of the vote” in Iowa and New Hampshire.
“Not exactly a ringing endorsement for a former president demanding a coronation,” Haley campaign director Nachama Soloveichik said.
Ms. Haley announced before the primary results that she would not drop out if she lost the Granite State.
Mr. Trump won the first-in-the-nation New Hampshire primary Tuesday with roughly 54.5.%, while Ms. Haley saw about 43.2% of support. He also secured a win by a bigger margin in the Iowa caucuses last week.
The next primary is in Ms. Haley‘s home state of South Carolina on Feb. 24.