Nikki Haley declares ‘wokeness is a virus more dangerous than any pandemic’ as she bashes Don Lemon
The Independent
03/03/2023
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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley made an appeal to potential voters at the Conservative Political Action Conference Friday as she declared a war on “wokeness” while reigniting her conflict with CNN’s Don Lemon.
The former South Carolina governor and US ambassador to the United Nations spoke to attendees at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center just weeks after she annnounced her candidacy. So far, she is the only Republican presidential candidate challenging former president Donald Trump.
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Trump mistakes E Jean Carroll for his ex-wife in video deposition footage Trump mistakes E Jean Carroll for his ex-wife in video deposition footageLaw & Crime
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Donald Trump has until Sunday to decide if he'll testify at rape trial Though he is not in the courtroom, a New York jury is hearing from former President Donald Trump on the allegation he raped E. Jean Carroll in a department store dressing room in the 1990s.In a video deposition played in the courtroom, Trump called Carroll a "nut job" who is "mentally sick." He repeated that Carroll was not his type and that his infamous comments about grabbing women on an Access Hollywood recording, which is allowed as evidence in the trial, were "locker room talk."Although Trump's attorney initially said the former president wouldn't testify in the civil rape and defamation trial, that could change.While traveling in Ireland Thursday, Trump hinted he would attend the trial, amid comments about Carroll and the judge."I'll be going back early because a woman made a claim that's totally false," he said. "It was fake. She's a fake. She wrote in her book she's a Democrat. We have a rough judge. We have a judge that doesn't like me very much, appointed by Bill Clinton."SEE MORE: Another woman testifies Donald Trump sexually assaulted herAt the end of court proceedings Thursday, the judge said it was his duty to allow both sides to share their part of the story, even though Trump has waived his right to testify.The judge gave Trump's attorney until 5 p.m. Sunday to file a motion to reopen the case to allow Trump to testify. But the judge was very specific about his terms and said he won't necessarily allow it, though he will consider it.Carroll is seeking an unspecified amount of money and a retraction of statements Trump made that she alleges were defamatory, one of which is his claim that she fabricated the entire encounter. She has said she initially didn't report the attack to police because she blamed herself. Carroll testified she told two friends about it shortly after it happened: Lisa Birnbach, who testified earlier this week, and Carol Martin, who testified Thursday.Martin told jurors she believed Carroll then and she believes her now. She said she isn't proud that she told Carroll not to tell anyone back then because Trump had attorneys who would "bury her."Both Trump's attorneys and Carroll's worked out a plan to do their closings and their rebuttals. They will each have two-and-a-half hours starting Monday at 10 a.m.
But during her speech at CPAC, Ms Haley focused more on the CNN anchor’s infamous comments that she was not in her prime after she suggested older politicians should be subjected to a cognitive test.
“The liberal media’s heads are exploding about my run for president,” she said. “The media can’t stand the fact that I’m a conservative.”
Ms Haley stressed the fact that she was the first female person of colour to serve as governor was a sign that America was not a racist country.
“I’m running for president to renew an America that’s proud and strong, not weak and woke,” she said. “Wokeness is a virus more dangerous than any pandemic, hands down.”
Ms Haley repeated parts of her campaign announcement, noting that Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight presidential elections, subtly pushing back on Mr Trump’s claim the election was stolen.
“And if you want to win not just as a party, but as a country, then stand with me,” she said.
At the same time, she spoke about “election integrity” and the fact as governor, she enacted a voter ID law.
“It’s racist to think minorities are incapable of getting an ID for themselves,” she said.
Ms Haley’s speech comes at the same conference where Mr Trump will later take the stage on Saturday. Shortly after Ms Haley spoke, former secretary of state Mike Pompeo, a potential challeger in 2024 who worked with her in the administration, spoke.
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