Former United Nations Ambassador and Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is facing criticism after an answer she gave to the question of what caused the Civil War.
During a campaign event in New Hampshire on Wednesday, a voter asked, “What was the cause of the United States Civil War?”
“Well, don’t come with an easy question,” Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, responded. “I think the cause of the Civil War was basically how government was going to run, the freedoms of what people could and couldn’t do.”
She then asked the man what he thought the cause of the war was, however, he declined to answer her question.
Haley went on:
“I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are. And I will always stand by the fact that I think government was intended to secure the rights and freedom of the people. It was never meant to be all things to be all people. Government doesn’t need to tell you how to live your life, they don’t need to tell you what you can and can’t do, they don’t need to be a part of your life. They need to make that sure you have freedom.”
Watch the video below:
US presidential candidate Nikki Haley, when asked about the cause of the American Civil War, gives a lengthy answer without mentioning slavery. pic.twitter.com/UA5urg22tV
— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterFamily) December 28, 2023
Finally, she insisted the government should ensure people can “do or be anything they want to be without government getting in the way.”
“In 2023, it’s astonishing to me that you would answer that question without mentioning the word slavery,” the man responded.
Haley then asked, “What do you want me to say about slavery?”
“You’ve answered my question. Thank you,” the man responded.
It did not take long for the clip to go viral as negative reactions poured in:
It was about slavery. https://t.co/q9bTDvtPne
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) December 28, 2023
Nikki Haley’s answer here is bizarre and wrong. I hope she will clarify her remarks. It’s too important – and too easy of a question to get wrong.
— Alyssa Farah Griffin (@Alyssafarah) December 28, 2023
I support Haley and would like to hear her correct herself. Leaders admit when they’re wrong. https://t.co/VjHyx2sIiv
Yes, I think Nikki Haley embarrassingly answered the question about the root cause of the Civil War.
— Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) December 28, 2023
It’s also something to see the same people who wring their hands over Confederate statue/symbolism removal be all, “Why couldn’t she just say it? Too afraid to condemn it?!”
This is such a bad answer. It’s such a pathetic answer. It’s such a cowardly answer. She’s afraid of telling her own base the truth. https://t.co/3q4rjayQRy
— Social Contract with Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) December 28, 2023
This same person once took down the confederate flag when she was Governor of South Carolina. It says a lot about the condition of the Republican Party that she thinks mentioning slavery would be a political liability. https://t.co/hAsoJPPSZS
— Sarah Longwell (@SarahLongwell25) December 28, 2023
Nikki Haley on the cause of the Civil War:
— Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) December 28, 2023
“I think it always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are."
NEITHER side would say it was about "the role of government."
Nikki Haley's refusal to answer "slavery" is not the first time. The Associated Press has found multiple other instances where Nikki Haley has defended the Confederacy, once describing the Civil War as a southern fight for "tradition" against "change."
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) December 28, 2023
She would later go on to… pic.twitter.com/6iby8i1uDn
“What do you want me to say about slavery?”
— Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) December 28, 2023
I think she mistook him for a Super PAC donor. https://t.co/aCNL1olSQi
The Associated Press noted Haley has previously failed to say slavery was the cause of the Civil War.