Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley didn’t hold back when responding to recent criticism from Liz Cheney, a vocal critic of former President Donald Trump. Cheney, a former Republican Congresswoman, recently questioned Haley’s decision to back the GOP nominee, stirring up a fresh debate in conservative circles, as reported by Fox News.

Cheney, who has become one of Trump’s most outspoken GOP opponents, threw her support behind Vice President Kamala Harris just last week. During an appearance on ABC’s This Week, Cheney took aim at Haley, accusing her of abandoning principles by standing “on standby” to support the GOP nominee in the general election.

Former Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo, speaks at the Texas Tribune Festival after endorsing Kamala Harris for President days earlier. Cheney, a republican, served as vice chair of the House Jan. 6 Select Committee. She spoke with Mark Leibovich, a staff writer at The Atlantic during a one-on-one at the Paramount Theatre in Austin, Sept. 6, 2024.

Haley, never one to shy away from confrontation, responded to Cheney’s jabs during a Monday interview on Fox News’ Fox & Friends. “I respect her decision, but she can’t say my decision isn’t principled,” Haley remarked confidently. “It actually is.”

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Haley made it clear that she sees a stark contrast between the candidates, particularly when it comes to the key issues. “We can either vote based on style, or we can vote on substance,” she continued. “I’m voting on substance. We can’t live the next four years like we did the last four years.” She didn’t mince words as she compared the records of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, highlighting how the former vice president raised taxes while Trump cut them, how Harris is weak on national security while Trump was a strong leader, and how Harris has allowed a flood of illegal immigrants across the border while Trump took decisive action to secure it.

Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, delivers remarks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on July 16, 2024.

Cheney, on the other hand, has remained steadfast in her opposition to Trump, continuing to warn about what she sees as his dangerous disregard for the Constitution. Speaking on ABC, she criticized Haley, claiming that Haley’s stance is “in any kind of a principled way.” Cheney lamented that Haley, like many Republicans, has abandoned the Constitution in favor of supporting Trump.

But Haley isn’t backing down. She reiterated her belief that Trump’s policies are far better for America than those proposed by Harris. “If you don’t like him, say you don’t like him, but you can’t say his policies are worse than Kamala Harris’. That’s just not a fact,” Haley shot back, emphasizing that her focus remains on issues, not personalities.

Haley also advised Trump to broaden his appeal, suggesting he work on gaining support from “conservative and moderate Republicans, suburban women, independents, and even conservative Democrats” to secure a win.

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Shortly after Cheney endorsed Kamala Harris, the Trump campaign wasted no time posting a throwback clip on social media. The video featured a four-year-old interview on Fox News, where Cheney criticized Harris.

“Her voting record in the Senate is even further left than Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren,” Cheney had said. “It’s very clear, she is a radical liberal.”

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Haley is unlikely to be moved by Cheney’s critiques. After being ousted from her Wyoming Congressional seat in 2022 due to her fierce opposition to Trump, Cheney’s political future seems bleak. Nevertheless, she remains resolute, vowing to do whatever it takes to prevent Trump from reclaiming the Oval Office, labeling him a “liar” and a “tyrant” who would “torch the Constitution.”