Donald Trump Jr. recently took to his Twitter account and posted a link to an article, taking a shot at Nikki Haley.
Least shocking, story of the day… or perhaps ever! https://t.co/2XyFCH2cSw
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) August 25, 2023
In the article, it was noted that some major questions were raised in Milwaukee at the first Republican presidential debate as foreign policy loomed as a key point of contention.
It was noted that Vivek Ramaswamy, as the only candidate directly against any escalation in the Ukraine-Russia war and against any additional U.S. funds, argued that the conflict represented “another no-win war” like the wars in Iraq and Vietnam.
The biotech investor prefers a quick negotiated end to the fighting and an alliance with Russia to help contain China against any future aggression, as well as a greater focus on domestic issues, such as immigration.
Several candidates, in contrast have argued that supporting Ukraine is a moralistic necessity.
Mike Pence said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “is a dictator and a murderer, and the United States of America needs to stand against authoritarianism.”
Nikki Haley, who also backs more American funds and military support for the conflict, made similar remarks. “Look at what Putin did today. He killed Prigozhin. When I was at the U.N., the Russian ambassador suddenly died. This guy is a murderer,” said Haley.
But the debate turned controversial as Haley charged that Ramaswamy is “choosing a murderer over a pro-American country.”
“I wish you well on your future career on the boards of Lockheed and Raytheon,” Ramaswamy shot back.
“You would make America less safe. You have no foreign policy experience, and it shows,” countered Haley.
The incendiary exchange, which instantly became a viral, made-for-television exchange clip shared widely, belied a deeper divide in foreign policy and the curious background of Haley, who went from near negligible wealth – with virtually no assets or investments other than a bank account with less than $15,000 in 2017 and up to $1 million in debt – to a sizable fortune.
Over the last year, Haley and her husband reported a vast investment stock portfolio and $12 million of income.
The former South Carolina governor left the Trump administration in 2018 at a time when her parents were struggling financially and had just faced foreclosure. Haley now resides in a 5,700-square-foot mansion on Kiawah Island now worth close to $5 million. Haley and her husband also helped sell a strip mall once owned by her parents and worked to clear the family of previous debts.
Along the way, Haley became wealthy in large part from her ties to a network of defense interests and hawkish advocacy organizations tied to U.S. and Israeli intelligence officials.
It has come to light that in one of her first reported private sector jobs after leaving her last government post, Haley joined the board of Boeing, a defense contractor, a position that paid around $300,000 a year in cash and stock. Haley, according to disclosures, still owns up to $250,000 in Boeing stock.
Haley’s primary income, aside from speaking engagements, is from United Against a Nuclear Iran, an advocacy group shrouded in secrecy.
Haley also works as a consultant to Prism Global Management, a New York-based investment fund run by Richard Kang, a position that earned $708,335. While the investment fund has no substantial online presence, Kang is active in the defense world and serves as an advisor to America’s Frontier Fund.
Michael Haley, Nikki’s husband, also launched his own defense contracting firm in recent years. Michael who previously served with the National Guard, along with stints in human resources and at a high-end clothing store, earns up to $500,000 from a company called Allied Defense.
