DeSantis Blasts Haley for “Very Consistent” Support of Communist China
DES MOINES, IOWA — Ron DeSantis ripped former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley’s past dealings with the Communist Chinese Party (CCP).
“Her main task as governor was to recruit investment from the Chinese Communist Party into South Carolina,” DeSantis told Mark Levin on Monday. “She was the number one ranked governor at bringing China into her state when she was governor.”
DeSantis added that – unlike his campaign’s approach to tout his administration’s accomplishments in Florida – Haley is running away from her record as governor of South Carolina.
SUPPORTING THE CCP
DeSantis’ accusation stems from Haley’s 2016 decision to recruit Chinese fiberglass company China Jushi, which built a plant less than 10 miles away from Fort Jackson military base in Columbia, South Carolina.
READ MORE: Nikki Haley on China: “They Are a Really Great Friend of Ours”
Noting that she was “very consistent” in supporting communist China, DeSantis recalled when the former UN Ambassador traveled to the World Economic Forum on multiple occasions.
“And this was something – she wrote a love letter to the ambassador when she was governor, saying what a great friend China was,” DeSantis said. “That’s very consistent. That was her worldview. That was what she did.”
“Now, she’s trying to say she’s a completely different person on all that and she’s trying to run away from it,” DeSantis added. “She’s also never gotten involved in a fight and actually fought on behalf of conservatives and won.”
DELIVERING ON PROMISES
The governor touted his success in Florida – delivering on “very consequential” promises – including recent sanctions against Iran, which he signed into law on Monday.
“We’ve always had – since I’ve been governor – strong sanctions against Iran,” DeSantis said. “But in the aftermath of the October 7 attacks, we looked and said, ‘Clearly, these attacks would not have happened had Biden not relieved sanctions and allowed the oil sales to Iran.’”
“This is just a pattern with kind of how she does things,” DeSantis said of Haley. “She doesn’t stand up when it matters and is basically catering to the more liberal Republican donor class.”
DeSantis told Levin that those same liberal Republicans expect politicians to “bend the knee” to donors and powerful corporations.
“Leadership’s just about doing what you think is right, for the right reason,” DeSantis said. “What I find is over the long term, people do gravitate to leadership and when they see that you’re willing to follow true north, there’s a lot of support out there.”
“So do not try to twist yourself into a pretzel just to please some of these guys,” DeSantis concluded.
The governor’s two-part interview with Levin can be watched here and here.