During a recent episode of “Saturday Night Live,” South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley took a swipe at former President Donald Trump, setting the stage for the state’s critical primary.
The show’s opening sketch lampooned a CNN town hall featuring a fictional version of Trump. As the comedic scenario unfolded, with Trump addressing conspiracy theories and poking fun at Senator Tim Scott, Haley entered the scene as a “concerned South Carolina voter.”
Haley’s character questioned Trump’s refusal to debate her, prompting a response from the fictional Trump that referenced a recent speech where he mistakenly identified Haley as Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker.
In a sharp retort, Haley suggested Trump might need a mental competency test, to which the fictional Trump countered, boasting of his supposed perfect score on a previous assessment.
Amid the comedic banter, Trump’s character made a jab at Haley’s eligibility for the presidency, echoing a false claim he reposted online last month about her citizenship status.
Despite the humor, Haley faced criticism during the sketch when actor Ayo Edebiri, hosting the episode, questioned her about the main cause of the Civil War, implying it was slavery—a topic Haley had previously skirted during a campaign stop, sparking controversy.
The SNL segment underscored the ongoing tension between Haley and Trump, particularly as South Carolina’s primary approached, highlighting their political rivalry and differing perspectives on key issues.
