Donald Trump struck back at South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, after she criticized the Republican presidential front-runner in her State of the Union rebuttal, and added that she’s not “off to a good start” if she wants to be considered for his running mate.
“She’s very weak on illegal immigration,” the billionaire businessman said on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends” on Wednesday. “I feel very strongly about immigration. She doesn’t.”
In her response Tuesday, Haley called for a stop to “stopping illegal immigration,” but also “welcoming properly vetted legal immigrants, regardless of their race or religion.”
“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.
She said Wednesday on CNN that she was addressing Trump when she made a comment on “the angriest voices” in the Republican Party in her response.
Haley has previously attacked Trump for proposing a temporary ban on admitting Muslim to the U.S.
But Trump said Haley had no problem with him when she needed his money.
“She certainly has no trouble asking me for campaign contributions,” he said. “It’s sort of interesting to hear her. If I weren’t running, she’d probably be in my office asking for money.”
Haley has been mentioned as a potential vice presidential candidate for Republicans, but Trump downplayed her viability.
“Well considering I’m leading in the polls by a lot, I wouldn’t say she’s off to a good start” to be his vice presidential candidate, Trump said. “Whoever I pick is also going to be very strong on illegal immigration.”