(USNewsMag.com) – Two Republican presidential contenders exchanged blows again this week: entrepreneur and political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
It started with Haley, who criticized Ramaswamy this week for remarks Ramaswamy made about the conflict between Israel and the radical Islamic militant group Hamas, comparing his comments to the views of Democratic lawmakers in “The Squad.”
Ramaswamy said that the former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador should be “disqualified” from running for president, accusing her of corruption. The biotech entrepreneur said he believes Haley does have “foreign policy experience” that “shows in her bank account” of $8 million. Ramaswamy called Haley the “Republican version” of President Joe Biden and his “crime family,” who he said “sold off” US foreign policy by monetizing “their connections.” Ramaswamy added that Haley is “willing to march [the US] into World War III” and shouldn’t be “anywhere near the White House.”
Ramaswamy’s comments came in response to Haley’s remarks that when it comes to talking about international conflicts, there is “no place” for Ramaswamy or The Squad, a group of Democratic lawmakers that includes Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who have called for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants. Other Republican presidential candidates, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and former Vice President Mike Pence, also criticized Ramaswamy for questioning Republicans who advocate for a harsh response from Israel.
Haley and Ramaswamy are battling it out to overtake Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for second place in the GOP nomination. Former President Donald Trump remains the frontrunner and is leagues ahead of his opponents in the polls.
The recent attack on Israel by Hamas emphasizes a growing rift between factions in the Republican Party. One side, the “America First” movement, is against foreign military interventions, while the more traditional conservatives are strongly aligned with supporting Israel as an ally. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House role remains vacant, and Republicans can’t agree on who to unify behind to fill the role.
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