Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley said entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy was “scum” during last night’s Republican primary debate.
Candidates discussed whether social media platform TikTok should be banned during the Wednesday night debate in Miami.
In a previous debate, Haley criticized Ramaswamy for maintaining a presence on the platform throughout his campaign for president. Ramaswamy said he wanted to laugh at Haley’s response before firing back at the former South Carolina governor.
“In the last debate, she made fun of me for actually joining TikTok while her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time,” the entrepreneur said. “So, you might want to take care of your family first before preaching to everybody else [inaudible] adult daughter.”
Haley interjected, “Leave my daughter out of your voice.”
The audience booed Ramaswamy as he stressed his point that the “next generation of Americans” are using TikTok.
“Yeah, her supporters, propping her up. That’s fine,” he said as the crowd jeered at him.
“You’re just scum,” Haley shot back.
Haley on Vivek: “you’re just scum”
pic.twitter.com/ZQH6jGLQCW— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) November 9, 2023
During the September Republican primary debate, Haley said TikTok was “one of the most dangerous social media apps that we could have.”
“Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say,” Haley told Ramaswamy at the time.
Ramaswamy also took aim at Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposed foreign policy and referred to them as “Dick Cheney in three-inch heels.” The entrepreneur’s remark was aimed at the former South Carolina governor along with DeSantis, who has been criticized in recent weeks for allegedly wearing lifted boots to appear taller.
“You have the likes of Nikki Haley, who stepped down from her time at the U.N., bankrupt or in debt was her family,” Ramaswamy said of the former South Carolina governor. “Then she becomes a military contractor. She joins the board of Boeing and otherwise — and is now a multimillionaire. So, I think that that’s wrong when Republicans do it or Democrats do it.”
“That’s the choice we face,” he continued. “Do you want a leader from a different generation who’s going to put this country first, or do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels? In which case, we’ve got two of them on stage tonight.”
Haley shot back, “They’re five-inch heels, and I don’t wear them unless you can run in them.”
Haley also referenced the remark in an X post shortly after.
“Vivek, I wear heels. They’re not for a fashion statement— they’re for ammunition,” the post read.
Vivek, I wear heels. They're not for a fashion statement— they're for ammunition.
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) November 9, 2023
