Former United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley declared on Tuesday while racism exists in the United States, the nation as a whole is not racist.
The host of “Good Morning America” George Stephanopoulos noted Haley discussed the nation’s “racial divide” during her speech at the Republican National Convention on Monday night.
Stephanopoulos mentioned Haley’s criticism of Democrats and her claim, suggesting they called America a “racist country.”
He explained Democrats denounced patterns of “systemic racism.” Stephanopoulos asked Haley if those barriers exist and what has President Donald Trump done to address them.
Haley pointed to Former President Barack Obama and Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris as examples of how the nation has made progress.
Watch her comments below:
“Do we have racists in our country? Yes, but we are a work in progress.” Former ambassador Nikki Haley speaks out about racism in America at the #RNC2020 https://t.co/WYQQZhH8ND pic.twitter.com/5W6CFBBO8S
— Good Morning America (@GMA) August 25, 2020
Haley detailed her experience as governor of South Carolina and dealing with “dirty cops,” including a white officer who shot and killed Walter Scott, an unarmed black man.
She recognized unity as a solution to social unrest and suggested America still has work to do.
“We came together. We passed the first body camera bill in the country. That’s how you fix things, by coming together, by talking about it, and by getting the solutions,” Haley said.
She added, “So, no, we’re not a racist country. Do we have racists in our country? Yes, but we are a work in progress.”
Stephanopoulos pressed Haley on what Trump has done to “heal that racial divide.”
She argued the president passed criminal justice reform unlike Obama and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden.
Haley told Stephanopoulos the unemployment rate for Black and Hispanic Americans has been lower under Trump than under Obama.
She spoke to the relationship she had with Trump and the person she saw during her time in his administration.
“The man that I knew in the White House was someone who genuinely cared about the American people. He cared about the status of all people,” Haley said.
She continued, “He cared about making sure that he left his mark on improving America for when he was done.”