Presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is swatting back at South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley after she used the Republican State of the Union response Tuesday night to caution the party against "angry" rhetoric like Trump's.
In an appearance on Fox & Friends, Trump branded the Republican governor as “very weak on illegal immigration.”
“I feel very strongly about immigration,” he said. “She does not.”
Trump suggested that Haley has had “no problem” soliciting campaign donations from him in the past.
“She certainly has no problem asking me for campaign contributions, because over the years, she’s asked me for a hell of a lot of money in campaign contributions,” he said. “So perhaps if I weren’t running she’d be in my office asking me for money, but now that I’m running she wants to take a weak side on immigration.”
On Tuesday night, Haley chided those in her own party who would “follow the siren call of the angriest voices,” a clear reference to Trump’s rhetoric.
“No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country,” she said.
Haley told NBC’s TODAY on Wednesday morning that she was indeed referencing the GOP frontrunner, saying “Mr. Trump has definitely contributed to what I think is just irresponsible talk."
Asked by FOX if he would consider picking Haley – a rising political star in a key primary state – to be his vice presidential pick, Trump said the odds were not looking good.
“Whoever I pick is also going to be very strong on illegal immigration,” he responded.
