LAS VEGAS (AP) — In a scathing critique, Nikki Haley denounced Donald Trump on Saturday for his admiration of foreign dictators, cautioning that his style of “chaos, vendettas and drama” poses a grave risk. Her criticisms of the former president were delivered during a meeting of influential Jewish Republicans, where both GOP presidential candidates and their rivals addressed the crowd.
“Eight years ago, having a leader who disrupted the system was beneficial,” Haley stated, referencing Trump. “However, at present, we need a leader who can also mend the broken pieces.”
At the Republican Jewish Coalition’s annual meeting in Las Vegas, Haley, a former United Nations ambassador, emphasized her foreign policy expertise and advocated for traditional Republican foreign policy principles. Former Vice President Mike Pence, another GOP foreign policy traditionalist and occasional Trump critic, took the opportunity to officially withdraw from the presidential race, further demonstrating Trump’s dominance in the primary.
During the event, all the Republican presidential candidates expressed their unwavering support for Israel’s offensive against Hamas, revealing a rare unity on the issue. This unity contrasts with their divergent opinions on whether the United States should aid Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Support for Israel holds significant importance in the Republican primary, particularly among influential evangelical Christians in Iowa, a state that holds the first Republican caucuses.
Trump, the runaway frontrunner in the 2024 race, did not acknowledge the presence of Haley, Pence, or the other speakers. Instead, he boasted about his accomplishments during his time in the White House, promising to restore “peace through strength” and prevent a potential “World War III.”
His remarks were met with enthusiastic applause, cheers, and multiple standing ovations.
The timing of the summit, spanning from Friday to Sunday, coincided with Israel’s response to Hamas militants, who carried out an attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians. The candidates took the stage in Las Vegas just hours after Israel expanded its ground operation into Gaza, intensifying the conflict and raising concerns about civilian casualties in the densely populated area.
Although Pence did not explicitly mention Trump when announcing his withdrawal from the race, he called on President Joe Biden to offer unconditional support to Israel. At the summit, he urged the crowd to remain steadfast in their faith, family, and the U.S. Constitution, while emphasizing America’s role as the leader of the free world.
Haley, on the other hand, directly referred to Trump by name and acknowledged him as a “pro-Israel president,” but questioned his future actions. She cited Trump’s recent comments, where he faced criticism for lashing out at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and praising the militant group Hezbollah as “very smart.” Haley also highlighted Trump’s repeated admiration for autocratic leaders in China and North Korea.
“These individuals are neither good nor intelligent,” Haley concluded.
Despite Haley’s preceding criticisms, Trump received his customary warm reception from the Republican Jewish Coalition, declaring himself “the best friend Israel has ever had.”
Furthermore, despite Haley’s comments, Trump proceeded to laud Hungary’s far-right autocratic Prime Minister Viktor Orban, describing him as “a very strong man.”
“Under my presidency, our country was highly respected and feared by China, Russia, and everyone else,” Trump proclaimed.
Although the crowd of approximately 1,000 coalition donors were not wearing red yarmulkes with the word “Trump” as in previous years, their unwavering support for him remained evident. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who has been openly critical of Trump throughout his campaign, was greeted with immediate boos upon taking the stage.
The organization’s long-time benefactor, billionaire casino mogul and GOP megadonor Sheldon Adelson, became a staunch supporter of Trump and urged coalition members to back him in 2016.
Adelson passed away in 2021, and his widow, Miriam Adelson, has continued to be a major party donor. However, she has pledged to remain neutral in the primary.
In their speeches, most of the candidates pledged unwavering support for Israel. Many criticized Biden, particularly for the $6 billion transfer to Iran as part of a deal to secure the release of five detained U.S. citizens. They also censured Democratic officials and liberals for their perceived failure to sufficiently condemn anti-Semitism.
Vivek Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur criticized by Pence and Haley for his inexperience and flawed foreign policy views, incurred boos when he claimed that America’s responsibility is to focus on domestic matters and avoid foreign military entanglements that do not directly affect the homeland.
However, the crowd cheered throughout much of his speech, especially when he stated that he would love to see the Israeli military execute the top 100 Hamas leaders and display their heads at the Israel-Gaza border.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis touted his official actions demonstrating support for Israel, such as sponsoring charter flights for Americans in Israel and ordering state universities to ban a pro-Palestinian student group.
South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott accused liberal politicians of insufficiently speaking out against the marginalization and oppression faced by Jewish Americans.
When Scott mentioned Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., the crowd responded with boos. Tlaib, the only Palestinian American in Congress, has called for a cease-fire and a reevaluation of U.S. military aid to Israel, citing concerns that it may contribute to war crimes. Her failure to explicitly condemn Hamas for the attack has drawn criticism from members of both parties.
Scott denounced the Democrats, stating, “They would rather embrace anti-Semitism within their ranks than risk upsetting their liberal base.”
