Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley says she's ready to campaign for former President Donald Trump but disagrees with his stance on IVF treatment.
Former President Donald Trump has expressed interest in having former presidential rival Nikki Haley join him on the campaign trail, while Haley maintains her "standby" status and elaborates on her policy differences with Trump.
Haley broke away from Trump on the issue of in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment, stating that she does not support government mandates for IVF coverage. "It's not a policy I support any more than it's a policy of Kamala Harris to remove private health insurance, or Medicare for All," Haley said.
Nikki Haley on Standby to Campaign for Trump, Breaks with Him on IVF Treatment
Despite this disagreement, Haley maintains her overall support for Trump. She acknowledged that Trump's team has not yet requested her assistance in the campaign, but she expressed readiness to help if asked. "He can, you know, whatever he decides to do with his campaign, he can do that. But when I called him back in June, I told him I was supportive," Haley said.
Haley emphasized the severity of the current election, citing the high stakes for both the Republican and Democratic parties. "There's a lot at stake," she said, expressing concerns about the cost of living, housing, immigration, energy, and safety.
Nikki Haley on Standby to Campaign for Trump, Breaks with Him on IVF Treatment
While Haley has voiced her support for Trump, she has also taken issue with some of his recent remarks. Specifically, she criticized Trump's pledge to mandate IVF coverage, arguing that it would be detrimental to healthcare access.
"You might as well be Canada. You might as well look at socialist health care," Haley said. "We never want to get to that point, because you're not going to get IVF or anything else, cancer drugs or anything else when it comes to that."
Nikki Haley on Standby to Campaign for Trump, Breaks with Him on IVF Treatment
Haley's comments highlight a divergence of views within the Republican Party on the role of government in healthcare. Trump's proposal for mandatory IVF coverage represents a more interventionist approach, while Haley advocates for a more market-based approach.
Haley's disagreements with Trump on specific policy issues do not diminish her overall support for his candidacy. She emphasized the importance of substance over style in political discourse, stating that American voters are intelligent enough to discern the relevant issues without being swayed by distractions.
Nikki Haley on Standby to Campaign for Trump, Breaks with Him on IVF Treatment
"The style is – no, it is not helpful to talk about whether women have children or whether they don't. It's not helpful to say any of those things that are personality-driven or anything else. I have said that, and I will continue to say to Republicans, ‘Stop it.’ That's not helpful. You know, if you want to talk about things, stick with policy. Americans are smart. They don't need all of this other noise to distract them."
Haley's presence on the campaign trail could potentially broaden Trump's appeal to female voters, a demographic that has shown a growing preference for Vice President Harris over Trump. However, it remains to be seen whether Trump will ultimately ask Haley to join him in his campaign efforts.
