Trump Wins South Carolina, Doesn’t Mention Haley In Victory Speech

Former President Donald Trump won the South Carolina Republican primary, winning over former South Carolina Gov, Nikki Haley. The president was projected winner within minutes of the poll closing, as the Associated Press called the race for him right after the polls closed at 7 p.m. ET.

BREAKING: Donald Trump wins the Republican presidential primary in South Carolina. #APRaceCall at 7:00 p.m. EST. https://t.co/FjgpZFcJ4E

— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) February 25, 2024

With 98% of the votes counted, Trump had 59.8% of the votes with 451,905 votes going to him. Haley, on the other hand, scored 39.5% support with 298,674 votes. The GOP front runner, who already had three times as many delegates than his major GOP rival, clinched 47 delegates on Saturday night, leaving Haley with 3.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters at the South Carolina state fairgrounds in Columbia after he was declared the winner, Trump said, “It’s an early evening and a fantastic evening.”

Unlike other times when he blasts Haley after his win, he did not mention Haley at all during his speech. According to his campaign aides, his decision to not mention the former U.N. ambassador is part of his planned messaging that the primary is over and he is securing the party’s presidential ticket.

However, he is ready to go back on the campaign trail, with the Michigan primary scheduled for next week and Super Tuesday the week after that.

During his speech, Trump was more focused on the general election in November, as he said, “On November 5th, we’re going to get up here and say, ‘Joe you’re fired! You’re fired! Get out!’”

When he was asked about Haley dropping out of the race during an interview with Fox News later, Trump said he is not really “thinking about it.”

“I’m really thinking about we have to beat Joe Biden. I don’t know if she’s in the race at all, because, you know, I have set records in every single state. I’m not sure that she’s really in the race,” he responded.

Trump’s seemingly new approach to a win is unexpected given he and Haley have recently ramped up attacks against each other amid pressure for Haley to drop out of the race.

During a recent rally in North Charleston, Trump suggested the end was near for Haley, saying, “She’s getting clobbered. She’s finished.”

He also suggested that “she’s losing it bigly” during a town hall event in Greenville, where he pointed out that “you’re not supposed to lose your home state. It shouldn’t happen.”

Haley, on her end, threw out calls for her to drop out, as she also attacked the president’s age, his legal battles and some of his controversial comments.

As for her decision to hold on to her campaign, she said, “I will take the bruises. I will take the cuts. This is going to be messy and I’ll take the hurt because I believe nothing good comes easy. Sometimes we have to feel pain to appreciate the blessing.”