Jiten Agarwal, an Indian American technology entrepreneur, hosted a fundraiser for Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley in Houston, along with billionaires John Nau, Rich and Nancy Kinder, and other donors, weeks before the March 5 Texas primaries.
The former ambassador to the United Nations and Donald Trump's main opponent on the ballot arrived in Texas this week to continue her bid for the Republican nomination. She will be holding a rally in Dallas and a meet and greet in San Antonio in addition to fundraisers in Texas this week, Agarwal said.
During the fundraiser, a female supporter asked Haley about her reaction to former President Trump's remarks about her husband's whereabouts. Michael Haley, Haley's husband, is currently on active duty deployment. Haley responded by saying that she and her husband did not take Trump's derogatory comments personally, as they understood it may happen in politics. She did, however, maintain that criticizing military personnel is a criticism of the entire military.
"The reality is Trump has never been anywhere near military uniform. He's never had to sleep on the ground. He's never known how to sacrifice. And the most harm he's ever possibly had is getting hit by a golf ball when he's sitting in a golf cart. That's the truth,” Haley asserted, adding that Trump will never understand what it takes to defend the country.
Haley further criticized Trump for his remarks at a rally when he said he'd "encourage" Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to a NATO ally that didn't pay enough to bolster the treaty organization's defense commitments. “An attack on a NATO country means a war with the United States" she stated.
Everything is bigger in Texas! Thank you, Dallas – what an awesome crowd, all 1250 of you! It’s clear the Lone Star State is ready to help us build a strong and proud America! pic.twitter.com/tW8C7wklby
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 16, 2024
The Indian American presidential candidate also highlighted Trump’s attempts to exercise control over the Republican National Committee (RNC) by endorsing his preferred candidates, including his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, for co-chair, and his senior campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, to serve as the RNC's chief operating officer.
"Are we going to let him just take over the party and control the convention, too? At what point do we not see the problem? We don't have kings in this country," Haley said. "The Republican Party needs to reinvent itself and become more relevant given the changing demographics and realities on the ground. The GOP's so-called political elites never supported me when I was running for South Carolina governor, and they do not support me now. I won South Carolina, and I will finish the presidential race successfully too. I am not going anywhere." she added.
At the end of her speech, Haley promised to support veterans, improve education, strengthen the economy and foreign policy, and strengthen border security if elected.
Commenting on Haley’s chances in the Texas primaries, Agarwal said, “In a political landscape marked by division and partisanship in today's America, Haley's message of unity, no chaos and strong leadership has struck a chord with Texans. Texas Republicans are always looking for a good conservative.”
"A large percentage of the party, who are not as vocal as they should be, is looking for a no-chaos leader of the next generation, who has a vision for America, who prioritizes country over personal interests, and who can serve for eight years. Haley is the right choice,” he opined.
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