Donald Trump mocks Nikki Haley for deployed husband's absence: "Where is he? He's gone"

Conway, South Carolina - Donald Trump recently mocked his presidential challenger Nikki Haley and her husband, who is currently deployed overseas.

Donald Trump (r.) recently mocked his presidential challenger Nikki Haley (l.) and her husband, who is currently deployed overseas.
Donald Trump (r.) recently mocked his presidential challenger Nikki Haley (l.) and her husband, who is currently deployed overseas.  © Collage: Frederic J. Brown & ALMOND NGAN / AFP

According to NBC News, Trump made the jab while telling a story during a rally on Saturday night about how Haley and her husband, Michael Haley, once paid him a visit at his Mar-a-Lago estate.

"Then she comes over to see me at Mar-a-Lago," Trump told the crowd.

"'Sir, I will never run against you.' She brought her husband [then]. Where's your husband [now]? Oh, he’s away. He’s away. What happened to her husband? What happened to her husband? Where is he?"

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"He’s gone!" he added. "He knew. He knew."

Michael was deployed to Africa with the South Carolina National Guard last June before his wife launched her campaign, a fact that Nikki Haley has repeatedly talked about in interviews and at rallies.

Trump's wife Melania, on the other hand, has been noticeably absent from the public eye for some time – even as her husband seeks re-election. This absence has caused heavy speculation about the state of their relationship.

Haley is the former president's last remaining challenger in the 2024 Republican primaries but has refused to drop out.

The two politicians will soon face off in Haley's home state of South Carolina, where she is expected to be defeated as Trump remains the front-runner in the race by a wide margin.

Nikki Haley claps back at Donald Trump

Haley addressed Trump's criticism that same night during her rally in Gilbert, South Carolina, where she said she was "proud" of her husband for his service, which she described as a "family sacrifice." She also issued a grave warning to the former president.

"Donald, if you have something to say, don’t say it behind my back. Get on a debate stage and say it to my face," she declared.

She also shared an X post, noting that her husband is "serving our country, something you know nothing about."

"Someone who continually disrespects the sacrifices of military families has no business being commander in chief," she added.

Cover photo: Collage: Frederic J. Brown & ALMOND NGAN / AFP

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