Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that a pro-Haley account redistributed past comments from Mace.
Rep. Nancy Mace (R.S.C.) attacked Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley in South Carolina in a bid to boost her last Republican rival, former President Trump. They’re making a mockery of their accomplishments.
Mace, who endorsed Trump in January, blasted Haley at a news conference Thursday and another pro-Trump event Friday, criticizing Haley’s record on taxes and past support for investments from Chinese companies.
“Nikki Haley is China’s favorite governor,” Mace declared Thursday to boos from the crowd at the first event at the Horry County courthouse. “If she had her way, South Carolina would be manufacturing scout balloons right here in our state.”
“When she was governor, she rolled out the red carpet for communist China,” Mace claimed. “In fact, she gave us our land for free. She said as governor that the Chinese workers could teach South Carolina workers a thing or two. Yeah. , South Carolina workers know better: Communist China doesn’t need to teach a murderous dictator anything about work ethics or honor.”
Ms. Mace continued her criticism on Friday, arguing that Ms. Haley’s fiscal policy fails to curb rising prices. “Governor. Haley started out as an accountant and went from paying people’s taxes to collecting people’s taxes,” said Mace, speaking outside the Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum.
X’s pro-Haley account (formerly Twitter) responded to the criticism, sharing Mace’s past praise for the governor, including when Mace was running for Congress. At the time, she called Haley a “rock star” and a “great leader.”
The former South Carolina governor helped Mr. Mace raise money when he was running for Congress and appeared in Mr. Mace’s ads, but the two have not spoken for more than a year, according to the Associated Press. It is said that there is no.
Mace this week called on Republicans to unite behind Trump ahead of the Feb. 24 South Carolina primary as he seeks a rematch with President Biden in November.
The House Republican endorsed Trump just before the New Hampshire primary. One of several South Carolina politicians touted support for Trump’s campaign before the nation’s first primary, which he won.
“We need a tough guy,” Mace said Thursday. “Be tough on China because Xi Jinping is afraid of Donald Trump.”
Mace was in Trump’s crosshairs when she called out him on television shortly after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Mr. Trump later endorsed primary challenger Katie Arrington, who lost to Mr. Mace in the primary.
Updated: 3:45 p.m.
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