Nikki Haley Rips Republican National Committee Over Declaring Trump Presumptive Nominee

Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley's campaign criticized the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel on Thursday regarding a draft resolution considering former President Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee.

The resolution, proposed by RNC committee member David Bossie, a former 2016 Trump campaign official, faced opposition from Haley's campaign, which pledged to continue into the South Carolina primary next month.

Haley campaign lashes out at RNC, Ronna McDaniel over resolution to declare Trump presumptive GOP nominee https://t.co/J3ik2cyPO1

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Haley's spokesperson, Olivia Perez-Cubas, dismissed the RNC's role, emphasizing that Republican voters nationwide should determine the party's nominee, not Washington insiders.

Perez-Cubas challenged McDaniel, suggesting she could contribute by organizing a debate in South Carolina, questioning whether there were concerns about Trump facing Haley on the stage for 90 minutes.

In response, RNC spokesperson Keith Schipper clarified that resolutions are proposed by RNC members and indicated that the Resolutions Committee would decide on the resolution's fate.

The resolution was later withdrawn after Trump, expressing gratitude on Truth Social, advocated for winning the nomination through the voters rather than RNC designation. Trump thanked the RNC for its respect but urged a traditional ballot box approach.

The resolution could have been voted on during the RNC's winter meeting next week, but not everyone, including RNC committee member Bill Palatucci, supported declaring Trump the presumptive nominee.

Palatucci criticized the resolution as "insulting" to primary voters and accused Trump of displaying an authoritarian streak by seeking nomination without the customary primaries.

Haley, the sole remaining challenger to Trump, faces challenging odds after his victories in Iowa and New Hampshire.

Early polls suggest a potential wide margin of defeat for Haley in the South Carolina primary, although no recent polling has been released since Iowa and New Hampshire.

Following her New Hampshire loss, McDaniel urged party unity around Trump as the eventual nominee, emphasizing the need to defeat Joe Biden. She expressed skepticism about Haley's prospects and encouraged uniting behind Trump.