Donald Trump's vexation with Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor, has been escalating, causing operational challenges for his 2024 Republican nomination campaign, according to sources close to the former president.
Trump's annoyance with Haley heightened after she secured second place in the New Hampshire primary last week and delivered a speech that he interpreted as a premature victory lap.
The personal frustration has deepened as Haley's refusal to withdraw means Trump will need to divert resources towards a more aggressive campaign for the South Carolina primary, taking focus away from preparations for a potential general election against Joe Biden.
This frustration may lead to a more contentious battle in the coming weeks, as Trump becomes increasingly determined to see Haley exit the race, discussing her in more vitriolic terms while aiming to dominate the early voting states and secure the nomination swiftly.
On the night of the New Hampshire primary, Trump expressed genuine disbelief that Haley did not withdraw, and instead, in her speech, portrayed her defeat – though closer than expected in polls – as an unexpected win.
Trump was caught off guard, expecting Haley to follow the example of Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who dropped out and endorsed him after finishing second in Iowa the previous week. Trump took Haley's defiant approach personally.
During his speech following the New Hampshire results, Trump complained, "Who the hell was the impostor that went up on the stage before and, like, claimed a victory? She did very poorly, actually."
As the Trump campaign gears up for upcoming contests before Super Tuesday, it has become evident that Trump may have to invest considerable time in battling the Haley campaign in South Carolina, a prospect he views as a distraction from the larger goal of securing the nomination.
Haley, described as "scrappy," continues to hold rallies with increasingly hostile denunciations of Trump. Last Wednesday, she launched a $4 million advertising campaign in South Carolina characterizing a Biden vs. Trump election as "a rematch no one wants."
Trump's frustration stems not only from the distraction Haley poses but also from what he perceives as a betrayal. In recent conversations with allies, Trump criticized Haley for not withdrawing, using pejorative language to express his sense of disloyalty. This frustration adds to the multiple priorities pulling Trump in different directions, notably his legal challenges, despite the conclusion of the second defamation case brought against him by E. Jean Carroll.