Former President Donald Trump demanded late Wednesday that donors stop opening up their wallets for Nikki Haley or else be “permanently barred from the MAGA camp.”
“Anybody that makes a ‘Contribution’ to Birdbrain, from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp,” the 77-year-old vented on Truth Social, using his preferred disparaging nickname for his former ambassador to the United Nations.
“We don’t want them, and will not accept them, because we Put America First, and ALWAYS WILL!”
Trump has ramped up his attacks on Haley, 52, in recent days, apparently aggravated that she refused to drop out after his double-digit victory in Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary.
Haley has vowed to take the fight to her home state of South Carolina, where she is down by over 30 percentage points in the most recent RealClearPolitics aggregate.
In a bid to press their advantage, the Trump campaign has touted endorsements from more than 150 current and former South Carolina officials — including the state’s governor and both Republican senators.
“I knew Nikki well, she was average at best, is not the one to take on World Leaders, and she never did. That was up to me,” Trump also wrote. “When I ran for Office and won, I noticed that the losing Candidate’s ‘Donors’ would immediately come to me, and want to ‘help out’ …no longer with me.”
Haley promptly encouraged donors to ignore Trump and pitch in to her campaign.
Ardent critics of Trump were quick to tout their support of Haley.
“I just donated to Nikki Haley. You should, too—and so should your family. Proud to be ‘permanently barred’ from Trumpism. Feels nice. Try it!” conservative lawyer Heath Mayo wrote.
“Just convinced me to donate to Haley,” added National Review writer Dan McLaughlin, who initially backed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the primary.
Haley’s campaign also announced it had hauled in $1 million in the 24 hours since the former South Carolina governor spoke to supporters Tuesday night in New Hampshire.
“New Hampshire is first in the nation. It is not the last in the nation. This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go,” Haley exulted in Concord.
