I've attended many-a-Nikki-Haley campaign event once she got her sea legs in the Republican presidential primary and she got comfortable slamming her former boss, Donald Trump.
Just a few months ago, she called him "unhinged," "not qualified" and said voting for him "is like suicide for our country." Those sure sound like quotes from a bitter rival, not someone on stage at the Trump show in Milwaukee. *nervous laugh*
(Here are more of Nikki Haley's past scathing Trump quotes)
That's what made Tuesday night's Republican National Committee speech so strange to watch, but also so strategic.
Someone please pair Nikki Haley's convention footage with this TikTok sound: "Don't be suspicious. Don't be suspicious."
"President Trump asked me to speak to this convention in the name of unity," she said. "It was a gracious invitation, and I was happy to accept."
*Looks around — she knows we remember, right?*
Ah, OK, she addressed the elephant in the room: "There are some Americans who don't agree with Donald Trump 100 percent of the time," she said. "My message to them is simple: You don't have to agree with Trump 100 percent of the time to vote for him."
A funny observation from the room: The audience didn't seem to know how to react at times during her speech. She received a mix of boos and cheers when she walked on stage. When she acknowledged her frosty winter with her ex-Republican rival, it was quiet. No boos, but only a smattering of claps. 📹 Watch the cheers and boos from my vantage point
Back-to-back dropouts: Another former primary rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), addressed the convention immediately following Haley. DeSantis's appearance wasn't as much of a surprise — he immediately endorsed Trump when he ended his primary bid in January — but it was strategic to have them speak back-to-back.
"Our enemies do not confine their designs to between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. … We need a commander in chief who can lead 24 hours a day and seven days a week," DeSantis said, taking a verbal swing at President Biden. "America cannot afford four more years of a 'Weekend at Bernie's' presidency."
One of DeSantis's biggest applause lines: "Florida is a solid Republican state."
Another interesting observation from in the room: Trump at various moments was seen in his box at the convention smirking and occasionally smiling as his former rivals heaped praise on him from the stage and ticked through the many reasons they said he should be elected again.
💡Why this was such a strategic move for Republicans: The tone of the presidential election changed in an instant Saturday when a gunman tried to assassinate former President Trump. President Biden and Trump have largely set aside their differences, at least for the moment. That "moment" happens to coincide with a nationally televised, prescheduled event that comes with a built-in audience of millions. That's what makes both Haley and DeSantis's appearances (but specifically Haley's) so meaningful. But man, it was striking to hear Haley's unity message after her repeated personal swings at Trump over the past year.
Tidbit during her speech: C-SPAN's Howard Mortman noticed that Sean Hannity tossed footballs into the crowd while Haley spoke. 📹 Watch
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