- Donald Trump insulted Nikki Haley and her supporters Wednesday in a Truth Social post.
- He described Haley's backers as "Radical Left Democrats" before inviting them to join his MAGA movement.
Just before former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina suspended her presidential campaign Wednesday morning, former President Donald Trump insulted his former rival — as well as her supporters — before inviting them to support him.
"Nikki Haley got TROUNCED last night, in record setting fashion," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Much of her money came from Radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters, almost 50%, according to the polls."
After cheering his Super Tuesday performance, Trump invited Haley's supporters to join him in "the greatest movement in the history of our Nation" to defeat President Joe Biden, whom he called "the enemy."
Trump's Truth Social missive arrived about the same time Haley announced she was suspending her campaign following a relatively poor showing on Super Tuesday. The move makes Trump the de facto GOP nominee and sets the stage for a Trump-Biden rematch later this year.
Haley, who'd spent months criticizing Trump's advanced age and mental acuity, did not endorse the former president when she dropped out of the race but wished him well and called on him to win over her supporters.
"It is now up the Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him," Haley said in her Wednesday speech in Charleston, South Carolina. "And I hope he does that."
"This is now his time for choosing," she added.
On X, a spokesperson for Haley called out the differences between Trump's and Biden's reactions to the ex-UN ambassador dropping out of the race.
In Biden's statement, he said it "takes a lot of courage to run for President" and applauded Haley for being "willing to speak the truth about Trump."
"Donald Trump made it clear he doesn't want Nikki Haley's supporters," the president said. "I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign."
Biden also had a big night on Super Tuesday, winning overwhelmingly in contests across the country. In most of the states that held Democratic primaries or caucuses, the incumbent president won between 83% and 93% of the vote.
But Biden lost support in several states as some Democratic primary voters opted to select "uncommitted" or "no preference" in what has largely been a protest against his refusal to call for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza — an issue where he's being heavily pressured by progressives in the party.