'The Very Definition Of America Last': Nikki Haley Turns Heads With Her Response During Explosive Debate Clash

On Wednesday evening, eight Republican presidential candidates took to the stage in Milwaukee for the first GOP presidential debate hosted by Fox News and the Republican National Committee. Amongst them were businessman Vivek Ramaswamy and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley who, at multiple points, went head-to-head with one another.

One exchange, in particular, is turning heads when the moderators brought up the war in Ukraine. Haley, as a former ambassador to the United Nations, took the opportunity to attack Vivek for his lack of foreign policy experience, saying, "The problem that Vivek doesn't understand is that he wants to hand Ukraine to Russia, he wants to let China eat Taiwan, he wants to go and stop funding Israel. You don't do that to friends." 

"You want to make America less safe," Haley said as Vivek tried to interrupt. "You have no foreign policy experience and it shows." To that comment, Vivek replied that the relationship between Israel and America is not a "client relationship but a friendship." 

The young businessman then praised Israel's domestic policies such as its promotion of strong borders, the rule of law, and a national identity. "I want to learn from the friends that we are supporting," Vivek said before Haley made a now-viral comment. "It's not that Israel needs America, America needs Israel. They are the frontline of defense to Iran," Haley said.

"This is an insane thing for a presidential candidate to say. The very definition of America Last," wrote Daily Wire host Matt Walsh about Haley's last comment.

"Honest to God, some of these GOP candidates are doing a real disservice to Israel," wrote user Alexander the Great. "If I were an Israeli, I wouldn't want Nikki Haley saying shit like this. She's so over the top, it makes my country look bad. It's so anti-anti semitic, it's actually antisemitic. Awful optics."

"Does this rhetoric appeal to any Americans other than hardcore Zionists?" questioned another user.

While some blasted Haley for her comment, others came to her defense.

"Go ahead Nikki! Let them know the truth. Iran threatens all the Middle East, Europe, & eventually the USA," wrote Daniel Sadan. 

The controversial comment has seemed to turn heads as the various factions of the Republican Party clash on America's role in the world.

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