Former South Carolina Governor and GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley has outlined her response to the recent deadly drone attack in Jordan, emphasizing a distinct foreign policy stance compared to former President Donald Trump.
In six media interviews following the attack that killed three American troops, Haley advocated for targeting Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps leadership, and Iran-backed militias’ resources, and imposing new sanctions to cut off financial support to Iran.
She emphasized the importance of “smartly hitting” Iran to prevent the death of American soldiers, presenting a calculated approach rather than randomly escalating tensions.
Contrastingly, Trump has not provided specific details on how he would handle the aftermath of the drone strike. He claimed the attack wouldn’t have occurred if he were in office, attributing it to President Joe Biden’s leadership and accusing him of bringing the country toward “World War 3.”
Haley’s proactive response aligns with her broader effort to showcase foreign policy expertise during her presidential campaign. She seized the opportunity to draw a distinction between her approach and Biden’s handling of military actions.
Despite the difference in strategies, less than 15% of GOP primary voters in Iowa and New Hampshire considered foreign policy the most important issue.
Haley’s response involves targeting IRGC leadership while aiming to prevent broader conflicts, emphasizing the goal of preventing war rather than initiating it. She argues that the lack of a clear articulation of American interests abroad contributes to the public’s reluctance for broader conflict.
