Former South Carolina Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley attacked her rival, President Donald Trump, in a surprise appearance during Saturday Night Live's “cold open” last night. Haley, who trails Trump by nearly 30 points in the latest poll of this month's South Carolina primary and nearly 60 points in national polls, was well received by a liberal TV studio audience in New York City when she sparred with Trump's character during a Candidates. Forum opening play.
The cold open was a mock CNN town hall in South Carolina, where Trump, played by James Austin Johnson, was peppered with questions about Taylor Swift and mocked Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) for endorsing Trump. The lines given to Trump to read were typical SNL smears, relying heavily on “sexism.”
Haley stood up at the town hall to ask Trump why he wasn't discussing it. Haley followed by poking Trump, saying he “may need a mental competency test,” amending him about E. Jean Carroll's $83 million ruling, asking him if he needs to borrow money, Trump's age, and asking him about losing his home state of New York in an election year.
SNL gave Haley the debate with Trump she had been craving in exchange for her trashing Trump to the show's liberal audience. At the end of the scripted segment, Haley received a barbed, humorous question about her botched answer about slavery last month in New Hampshire, which SNL gave her as an opportunity to clean up on national television.
Hailey also had the classic hit “Live from New York, It's Saturday Night!” line for reading.
Haley's campaign posted a clip of her appearance on And that's exactly what voters will think if this race is between Trump and Biden in the fall. Had a great time tonight on SNL! I know it's past Donald's bedtime, so I'm looking forward to the stream of rambunctious tweets in the morning.
“I see dead people.” And that's exactly what voters will think if this race is between Trump and Biden in the fall.
Had a great time tonight on SNL! I know it's past Donald's bedtime, so I'm looking forward to the stream of rambunctious tweets in the morning pic.twitter.com/W43LlPOoi2
– Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) February 4, 2024
SNL's full cold open:
Haley (52 years old) does not have a clear path to the Republican presidential nomination, but she risks alienating the support she enjoys among older voters through her constant criticism of Trump despite his age (77 years), and her false comparisons with Joe Biden, who is 77 years old. 81 years old. He is clearly in cognitive and physical decline.
Trump has not, as of this writing, responded to Truth Social's criticism of Haley on SNL.
