Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate and former Governor of South Carolina, faced criticism after omitting the mention of slavery in her response to a question about the cause of the U.S. Civil War. The incident occurred during a town hall in Berlin, New Hampshire, when a voter asked Haley about her understanding of the war’s origins.
Haley, without mentioning slavery, spoke about the role of government and the freedoms of what people could and couldn’t do, leading to the questioner expressing astonishment at her omission. The voter’s follow-up prompted Haley to provide a more detailed response, focusing on government roles, individual freedom, and capitalism. However, her failure to mention slavery as a key factor in the Civil War’s causation drew criticism.
In response to the backlash, Haley, 12 hours later, clarified her stance in a radio interview. She acknowledged that the Civil War was indeed about slavery, referring to it as “a stain on America,” and reiterated the importance of freedom and individual rights.
Haley’s initial response and subsequent clarification come amidst her campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, where she competes for a distant second place to Donald Trump. Her campaign has been marked by a focus on competing in early states and returning to South Carolina for the primary.
The incident has also drawn attention from rival campaigns, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis‘s campaign recirculating video of the exchange on social media, accompanied by critical commentary. DeSantis, himself a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, has faced scrutiny over his state’s educational standards regarding slavery.
Haley has previously been pressed on issues related to the Civil War and its heritage. As Governor of South Carolina, she initially dismissed the need for the Confederate flag to be removed from the Statehouse grounds but later urged its removal following the 2015 Charleston church shooting.
