Donald Trump claimed he was “more alert now than 20 years ago,” responding to Nikki Haley’s criticism of his age and mistakes.
Trump also called for cognitive tests for presidential candidates, seemingly answering Haley’s challenge. Haley supported the same idea, pointing out the age of Trump, 77, and Democratic President Joe Biden, 81.
Trump spoke at a Nevada rally, before the next Republican presidential caucus in the state on February 8. Haley recently attacked Trump for being confused and doubted his presidential fitness at his age.
Trump made some verbal errors lately. He mixed up Haley and former Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a speech on January 19. He sometimes slurred his words and implied former Democratic President Barack Obama was still president.
Trump will likely get Nevada’s 26 delegates as Haley is not in the caucus. He slammed Haley and Biden, aiming to end Haley’s Republican bid and gain an advantage for a possible November face-off with Biden.
Trump’s consecutive victories in Iowa and New Hampshire made him the presumptive Republican nominee. But he is angry that Haley, his only remaining GOP challenger, won’t quit.
Trump and his supporters have started a drive to push Haley out before the next big primary in her home state of South Carolina on February 24. Trump has warned to ostracize any donors who keep backing Haley.
Haley vowed to continue her campaign in South Carolina and beyond.
After Trump spoke, Haley held a rally in South Carolina. She repeated that Trump seemed “confused” and challenged him to a debate, saying it was the best mental test for a presidential candidate.
Trump has skipped all the Republican debates and rejected Haley’s challenge.
In Nevada, Trump insulted Haley, calling her “birdbrain”. He also claimed Haley — a conservative Republican — was “almost a far-left Democrat”.
Trump said: “It’s time to end this,” meaning his nomination battle. He is ahead of Haley in South Carolina polls and she has no realistic chance to win the nomination.
Following Trump’s New Hampshire victory on January 23, the Biden campaign said: “Donald Trump is clearly the Republican nominee.”
Trump then turned to Biden and talked mostly about the southern border.
Many migrants have been caught crossing the US-Mexico border illegally since Biden became president in 2021, and polls show immigration and the border are a major issue in this year’s election.
Trump described the illegal crossing as a “disaster”, an “assault” and the southern border as a “bleeding sore”.
On the other hand, Biden and his aides have stepped up their attacks on Trump lately, calling him a danger to US democracy and linking him to the US Supreme Court’s 2022 ruling to end federal abortion rights, an issue that hurt Republicans in the 2022 midterms.