Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered an anti-endorsement of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley early on Jan. 12.
The video announcement came after a tease that he’d have “something important to say” about the upcoming 2024 presidential race.
The Republican from Kentucky attacked Ms. Haley’s foreign policy positions, comparing them to those of the “Dick Cheney, John McCain wing of the party.”
He stated that Ms. Haley is the only candidate with whom he’d be uncomfortable as the GOP nominee.
“I’m not yet ready to make a decision, but I am ready to make a decision on someone who I cannot support. So I’m announcing this morning that I’m ‘never Nikki,’” the lawmaker said, referencing the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador.
As I look over the GOP candidates for President, I don’t yet have a first choice. But I do know one thing: count me in as #NeverNikki! If you want freedom of speech and oppose forever-wars join me ➡️ https://t.co/OBNnT6ZhjP. pic.twitter.com/qxluyL7aIj
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) January 12, 2024
When speaking about the other candidates, Mr. Paul was more charitable.
“I’ve had a long relationship with Donald Trump, and there’s a lot to like there,” he said. “I’m also a big fan of a lot of the fiscal conservatism of Ron DeSantis. I think Vivek Ramaswamy has been an important voice [and I] also have listened to and met with the independent [Robert F.] Kennedy [Jr.].
But, “I don’t think any informed or knowledgeable libertarian or conservative should support Nikki Haley. I’ve seen her attitude towards our event [and] our interventions overseas. I’ve seen her involvement in the military-industrial complex, $8 million being paid to become part of a team.”
Mr. Paul also disagreed with Ms. Haley’s ideals on internet usage, saying he stands against making individuals register to use the internet: “I think she fails to understand that our Republic was founded upon people like Ben Franklin, Sam Adams, [James] Madison, John Jay, and others who posted routinely—for fear of the government—they posted routinely anonymously.
“And I think her failure to really understand that or to think that you should register through the government somehow on the internet is something that should disqualify her in the minds of all libertarian and libertarian-leaning conservatives.”
Mr. Paul teased his news the afternoon before with a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Following his video statement, Mr. Paul also pointed to Ms. Haley’s stance on the United Nations, where she served as U.S. ambassador, as problematic in a series of posts on X.
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