Sunday Snapshot: Haley shares why she's backing Trump
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US President Donald Trump meets with Nikki Haley, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations in the Oval office of the White House on October 9, 2018 in Washington, DC. Photo: OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
Former UN ambassador and GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley said she's "on standby" to campaign for former President Trump — who she once saw as "totally unhinged" but now is backing, despite opposing his "style," "approach" and "communications."
Meanwhile, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) continues to flame the former president and will vote blue for the first time in her life.
Here's what you may have missed when newsmakers hit the airwaves this Sunday, September 8.
1. Haley: "Neither are ideal," but Trump has her vote
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said in an interview aired Sunday she is supporting Trump because of his policies — even though she doesn't agree with some of them.
Why it matters: Haley became increasingly critical of Trump while running her own presidential campaign, slamming him as "unhinged" and "toxic." While she still disagrees with his "style," Haley said she would vote for Trump in May and endorsed him during the Republican National Convention.
- Despite their campaign trail clashes, Haley was briefly rumored to be considered as a potential running mate for the now-GOP nominee, though Trump later nixed the rumblings.
Driving the news: In an interview aired Sunday on CBS' "Face the Nation," Haley said she is "on standby" to campaign for Trump but has not been asked to thus far.
Zoom in: Asked about a recent press conference in which the former president denied and mocked sexual assault allegations against him — and scarcely mentioned the upcoming election — Haley replied: "I think the focus for me is on policy."
- Haley continued, "I've always said, look, if I thought Biden or Trump were great candidates, I wouldn't have run for president; I ran because I thought I could do a better job."
- Pressed by CBS News' Margaret Brennan on whether Trump was a "good candidate," Haley answered, "I think he is the Republican nominee," adding she believes "it's not a question" to support him over Vice President Kamala Harris.
- "Do I agree with his style? Do I agree with his approach? Do I agree with his communications? No," she continued. "When I look at the policies and how they affect my family and how I think they're going to affect the country, that's where I go back, and I look at the differences."
2. Warnock dismisses shootings being "a fact of life"
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) pushed back on comments made by GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance regarding school shootings following the deaths of two students and two teachers at Apalachee High School last week.
Driving the news: At a campaign rally, Vance said that school shootings are "a fact of life" and the solution is to beef up school security. Warnock disputed that during an appearance on CNN's "State of the Union," saying that the "least we can do is to stop hiding" from the issue of gun violence.
What they're saying: "It's not a fact of life, it's a fact of American life," Warnock said. (Emphasis is ours.)
- "We are telling our children that when this happens, the best we can do is tell you how to hide. Think about the trauma we are visiting upon our children," he said.
- Warnock added that while Vance is talking about adding security to schools, shootings happen in other places too.
- "What are we going to do? Turn the whole country into a fort?" he asked.
Warnock went on to call for "reasonable common sense gun laws."
3. Liz Cheney rallying the anti-Trump Republicans
Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) addressed voters who plan to write in a name other than Trump or Harris in November's election, urging them to "take the extra step" and vote for the Democratic nominee.
Why it matters: Cheney, who has been an outspoken critic of the former president, and her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, endorsed Harris last week over the GOP ticket, citing the dangers they believe Trump poses to democracy.
- The Cheneys join several other prominent Republicans who have shirked policy differences to rally behind Harris — though others, like former President George W. Bush, have not publicly endorsed either candidate.
4. Christie's debate advice for Harris
Tuesday's presidential debate between Harris and Trump will mark the first time the two candidates have met on the trail since Harris entered the race, and former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie offered his take on what Harris should do.
Zoom in: "Charm and disarm," Christie said when asked what advice he would give the vice president.
- "There's another way to lead. There is a way that you can be kind, that you can be smart and tough at the same time. That's the charm," he said.
- Christie said if she "disarms" Trump's digs she "will get under his skin," a tactic he contended "Hillary [Clinton] failed at."
Worth noting: Christie helped prepare Trump for debates in 2016 and 2020, a task he said Sunday was a "constant struggle."
More from Axios' Sunday coverage:
