Trump’s Mob Boss Threat Against Nikki Haley Donors Blows Up in His Face
Donald Trump’s plan to threaten Nikki Haley’s financial backers immediately backfired on him on Wednesday, as several prominent people in the MAGA camp proceeded to donate to the GOP front-runner’s primary opponent, launching a spontaneous fundraising drive for the South Carolina governor.
“When I ran for office and won, I noticed that the losing candidate’s ‘donors’ would immediately come to me, and want to ‘help out.’ This is standard in politics, but no longer with me,” Trump posted during a late-night social media tantrum.
“Anybody that makes a ‘contribution’ to Birdbrain, from this moment forth, will be permanently barred from the MAGA camp,” he added, derogatorily referring to Haley, whom he put in his own presidential Cabinet as ambassador to the U.N.
But then several of Trump’s former staffers chimed in on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, apparently hard-withdrawing their MAGA cards in favor of sending some money to the ambassador.
“Done,” posted Trump’s former deputy press secretary, Sarah Matthews.
Done. Join me in donating to @NikkiHaley here: https://t.co/C8SIucqOE6 https://t.co/b6Nc1ECijD pic.twitter.com/pMJHqdO95E
— Sarah Matthews (@SarahAMatthews1) January 25, 2024
Haley caught on quickly, posting a link to her donation page.
Well in that case…donate here. Let’s Go!❤️???????? https://t.co/T29l0DdrKv https://t.co/RvbLoL8oOd
— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) January 25, 2024
That set the stage for other voters to gleefully join in the fundraising fray.
Trump's banning me, a three-time Haley donor and lifelong Republican, from a cult I absolutely despise?
— D. Thomas Adams (@AssemblyRoomUSA) January 25, 2024
Oh, he's so cruel.
Am about to make my fourth Haley donation.????????????https://t.co/waMCVugluQ
Thanks for the parting invitation Trump! ???????????? pic.twitter.com/oDMYDr4SQg
— ????????????????????????-???????????????????????????????? (@Illusion4774) January 25, 2024
Others noted that the mob boss–style threat seemed particularly on edge for a candidate who just won the New Hampshire primary by double digits, and questioned the legitimacy of the financial threat from a man facing several pricy upcoming criminal trials and a potential $370 million fine for committing bank fraud to expand his real estate empire.
Trump is acting very threatened. It doesn't seem like HE thinks the primary is over. Just heard Haley got $1,000,000 so far today in donations after the NH overperformance. https://t.co/f71HZqorEr
— Dr. John R. Samuelsen (@JohnRSamuelsen) January 25, 2024
You honestly think Trump would ever turn down money? If I gave $5k to Nikki Haley & was like, Donald I want to give you $100k you think he'd turn it down? He's only in this thing for the money, he would NEVER turn down any donation. This is the biggest bunch of BS he's ever said
— The Papa Bear & Beansy Show (@GabeVenit) January 25, 2024
Despite the local drive’s overnight popularity, it will hardly replace some of Haley’s biggest backers—like venture capitalist Reid Hoffman—who began pausing donations to the campaign after Haley’s lackluster results on Tuesday.