Nikki Haley Raises Concerns Over Trump’s Mental Fitness After Rally Mix-Up

In Manchester, New Hampshire, Nikki Haley raised concerns about Donald Trump’s mental fitness for the presidency, pointing to an incident where he mistakenly identified her as Rep. Nancy Pelosi during a Friday-night rally. Speaking to supporters in Keene on Saturday, Haley emphasized that the upcoming presidential race shouldn’t be dominated by candidates in their 80s.

Haley highlighted Trump’s comments from a Concord rally where he criticized her, referring to her as a “globalist fool” and indicating that he wouldn’t choose her as his running mate if he secured the Republican nomination. During the rally, Trump also inaccurately linked Haley to the handling of security during the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021, even though she was not in office at that time.

Expressing her concerns, Haley stated, “When you’re dealing with the pressures of the presidency, we can’t have someone else that we question whether they’re mentally fit to do this. We can’t.” She went on to recount Trump’s repeated mentions of her in connection with the Capitol attack and emphasized the need for a leader who can withstand the demands of the presidency.

Trump’s and Haley’s campaigns have not responded to requests for comments from NBC News. Notably, Haley has advocated for politicians over 75 to undergo mental competency tests, targeting both Biden and Trump. The comments made by Haley, who has consistently called for a new generation of leaders, mark one of her strongest statements regarding Trump’s capability to serve as president.

Trump has previously accused Pelosi of rejecting additional security measures for January 6, a claim refuted by the House select committee investigating the Capitol attack. Both Haley and Trump have focused on Biden’s age, portraying him as mentally unfit for the presidency. Haley’s campaign manager, Betsy Ankney, acknowledged Trump’s recent remarks as a notable gaffe but reiterated Haley’s long-standing argument for mental competency tests for politicians over 75.