Nikki Haley, former UN ambassador in the Trump administration, took a not-so-subtle shot at President Biden, 80, and former President Donald Trump, 76 — saying it’s time for a “new generation to lead.”
The slam came as Trump, kicking off the next phase of his 2024 presidential campaign on Saturday, paraded his South Carolina leadership team — including Gov. Henry McMaster and GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham — leaving Haley, the Palmetto State’s former governor, notably absent on stage
On the same day, Haley — expected to soon announce her own presidential bid — tweeted out her interview with Fox News earlier this month.
“The survival of America matters,” she told Fox News.
“It’s bigger than one person. And when you’re looking at the future of America, I think it’s time for new generational change. I don’t think you need to be 80 years old to go be a leader in DC,” Haley said. “I think we need a young generation to come in, step up, and really start fixing things.”
She captioned the tweet: “It’s time for a new generation to lead.”
Trump announced in November he would run a third presidential campaign, but the 80-year-old Biden — who’s said he intends to run for re-election — has yet to formally announce his candidacy.
Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who’s reportedly mulling a presidential run, also was absent from Trump’s rally.
But Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis — expected to be among Republicans challenging Trump in the primary — was on the former president’s mind.
Trump pointed out how far ahead of DeSantis he is in the polls and took credit for the governor’s political success because of his backing.
“If he runs, that’s fine. I’m way up in the polls,” Trump told The Associated Press after his South Carolina speech.
“He’s going to have to do what he wants to do, but he may run. I do think it would be a great act of disloyalty because, you know, I got him in. He had no chance. His political life was over,” Trump claimed.
