As Nikki Haley Takes Stage At CNN Town Hall, Donald Trump Counters With A Fox News Sean Hannity Interview

As former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley took the stage at CNN‘s town hall in New Hampshire, her chief rival in the state’s primary took to another interview on Fox News.

It was yet another bit of counter-programming on the part of Trump, as well as Fox News, which billed Sean Hannity‘s interview as the former president’s first since his victory in the Iowa caucuses. Last week, as Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis participated in CNN’s pre-Iowa debate, Fox News did a town hall with Trump.

Shortly after Haley took the stage, host Jake Tapper asked Haley about Trump’s attacks on her, including advancing a conspiracy theory that questioned her eligibility to be president as the child of Indian immigrants. Trump also referred to her as “Nimrada,” misspelling her given first name, Nimarata, clearly reviving birtherism and the “otherness” of his opponents.

Haley didn’t condemn Trump’s remarks, but dismissed them. “The name calling: I know President Trump well. That is what he does when he feels threatened.”

On Fox News, Trump was in friendly territory.

“I love the state of New Hampshire. I love the people of New Hampshire. I don’t like their primary system for one reason: They have what’s called an open primary. Already we know that nearly 4,000 Democratic voters have switched affiliation to undeclared, meaning independent, ahead of the primary,” Hannity said, setting some expectations for next week. “Does that system bother you?”

Trump said, “It bothers me. The governor should have done something about it instead of talking and wasting his time with Nikki because she is not going to make it. She has got no chance. She has got no way. MAGA is not going to be with her.” He was referring to Governor Chris Sununu, who has endorsed Haley.

“Who has a system where Democrats are allowed to vote in a Republican primary?”