On the record · Updated October 18, 2026
former South Carolina governor
42 things Nikki Haley said, verbatim, from March 27, 2026 to October 18, 2026, each linked to where it ran. Grouped by the questions at issue, with who supported, disputed, or qualified each one.
Positions
Supports
“Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States' national security. Darline Graham admits she's not,”
CBS News Darline Graham wins South Carolina's Senate runoff by 18,069 votes, a week after saying national security is not her thing ›
Others on this question
“National security is not my thing, not my area of expertise, but I do support the military.”
More on the record
Posted it themselves
“Shame on you for trying to blow a kiss and slap Israelis in the face at the same time. On October 7, Hamas raped, burned, and murdered Israelis and Americans in front of their loved ones. They kidnapped others and tortured them for months. This is antisemitism, no matter how you try to put a bow on it. Israelis have every right to defend themselves. If this happened in the U.S., you can bet we would defend ourselves too.”
on October 7 and Israel's right to self-defense, responding to criticism of Israel
Posted it themselves
“Oil is flowing again, and the Iranian regime’s currency is in free fall. The only way this war ends is to keep up maximum pressure. When the regime is defeated, Iran will no longer be a threat to Israel or our Gulf allies, and China and Russia lose too.”
on keeping maximum pressure on Iran's regime to end the war
Posted it themselves
“Since 2015, the UN has passed 188 resolutions condemning Israel. That's more than twice as many as against the rest of the world combined—Russia, China, Iran, and Venezuela included. Yet diplomats sat politely through a speech from Iran, a regime that has killed thousands of its own citizens and still persecutes them. It's not about human rights. It's blatant anti-Israel bias.”
on UN resolutions condemning Israel compared with other countries
Posted it themselves
“The UN in Lebanon failed for decades and cost taxpayers $150 million a year, all while they protected the terrorists they were supposed to stop. It’s finally ending, but the UN and Europeans are already cooking up replacements. The U.S. is right to hold the line and say no more enabling this charade.”
on ending the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon after decades of costly failure
Posted it themselves
“Right is right. Wrong is wrong. In life, you must choose a side. You are either with the Tucker Carlson wing of the country or you are with the pro Israel wing of the country. You can’t be both. @JDVance “We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim.” Elie Wiesel”
Posted it themselves
“Since March, the Iranian regime has executed 56 people—many publicly hanged for the “crime” of protesting their government. A regime willing to treat its own people so barbarically cannot be trusted to ever stop threatening the same terror toward the outside world.”
Posted it themselves
“Iran will never follow through on ending nuclear production nor giving up its new found leverage in the Strait of Hormuz. They are attempting to play us….again. The only way to stop them is to eliminate their avenues of funding. Period.”
Posted it themselves
“Disarming Hamas isn’t just good for Israel. It’s also the path to a terror free Gaza for Palestinians. Everyone should want it to succeed.”
Posted it themselves
“Iran doesn't need missiles to threaten us, they will bring this fight to American soil however they can. Cyber attacks are just one of the weapons they will use.”
Posted it themselves
“Iran is a threat to the entire free world, not just America. It’s in our allies' best interest to accept that and help us.”
on Iran as a global security threat to allies
As printed
“This regime chants death to America, murders our troops, and attempts to assassinate Americans on US soil,”
As printed
“Hitting Iran’s nuclear and missile sites was the right move. This regime chants death to America, murders our troops, and attempts to assassinate Americans on U.S. soil. They believe they have an obligation to destroy us,”
on defending U.S. strikes against Iran's nuclear and missile sites
Latest Political News on Fox News 'Trump should renege': Iran deal faces backlash from conservative allies ›
As printed
“They believe they have an obligation to destroy us. Now, we plan to unlock billions of dollars and lift sanctions, with the promise of even more money.”
Al Jazeera Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera Trump’s MoU with Iran draws backlash from some Republicans ›
As printed
“The Basij Resistance Force is a paramilitary force operating under Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps,”
on the IRGC-linked Basij force lowering its recruitment age to 12
Breitbart News Iran's Terrorist IRGC Lowers Age to Join Repressive Forces to 12 amid War ›
Posted it themselves
“There are certain decisions that will go down as history-defining moments. This is one of them. It's a terrible misjudgment of Putin, who has made it clear he wants to destroy the West. We shouldn't help him do it.”
Posted it themselves
“Putin attacked Ukraine. Putin has helped the Iranians in the war against the US. Putin continues to threaten our NATO allies. This is irresponsible.”
Posted it themselves
“A Russian drone struck a Ukrainian train station only a mile from the border of Poland. It just missed both European and American officials. This isn't Putin being reckless. He is seeing how far he can go before anyone pushes back.”
Posted it themselves
“Russia has made the world more dangerous for America and our allies. Lindsey understood that and his determination to weaken Putin never wavered. Today’s Senate vote holds Russia and its war enablers, including Iran, accountable. It’s a win for our national security and a testament to his legacy.”
Posted it themselves
“This We should not send our American students to China. Last month when he visited the White House, President Xi invited 100,000 Americans to study in China. This summer, China invited an American scholar to a conference, then arrested and jailed him. Keep our kids away from the Chinese Communist Party.”
Posted it themselves
“Today President Xi will attempt to give false hope of a more cooperative relationship with the US while continuing to fund Russia’s war against Ukraine, support Iran in the war against us, and continue cyber attacks on America. Presidents in the past have been naive when it comes to China. We have to learn from past mistakes with China and be clear eyed about their continued aggression against the US and our allies.”
Posted it themselves
“China is arming Russia with drone parts used to kill Ukrainians. China is arming Iran with satellite imagery to target U.S. military bases. Xi knows exactly what he's doing and should be held accountable.”
Posted it themselves
“How can the world take the United Nations seriously when representatives from Taiwan, a democracy of 23.5 million people, are not even allowed to enter the building?”
Posted it themselves
“When President Trump meets with President Xi next month, Xi will turn on the charm and claim China is a good actor. Meanwhile he’s funding Iran in a war against us, hacking our critical infrastructure, and undermining America at every turn. We need to be clear when it comes to”[post continues]
Posted it themselves
“The UN "Human Rights Council" sided with Russia against countries that sanction human rights abusers. Yet another example of why the UN is dysfunctional.”
Posted it themselves
“Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted. We can't be naive to the fact they are aiding the Iranian regime.”
Posted it themselves
“China, Russia, and Iran have divided Americans using bots on social media for years. This won’t stop until social media companies face consequences for allowing the bots to exist. They could get rid of them today but they don’t want to devalue their companies. It’s time to hold them accountable.”
As printed
“Darline Graham admits she’s not. This is not something you inherit. And it’s critical in the U.S. Senate.”
CNN Sen. Darline Graham admits in debate: ‘National security is not my thing’ ›
As printed
“here she is saying that 9/11 was America’s fault.”
The American Conservative Far-Left Dem Says 9/11 Was Blowback. So Did Pat Buchanan ›
Posted it themselves
“Social security will go bankrupt in 5 years effecting 75 million Americans. You can’t blink away this growth in our debt. This is past a crisis situation and needs to be a top priority for every elected official.”
Posted it themselves
“America is about to hit $40 trillion in debt this week. That’s over $300,000 for every household in America. Washington keeps spending money we don’t have like the bill is never coming due.”
Posted it themselves
“This is exactly why our country is in such a fiscal mess. Rather than make hard choices, politicians put off the problem for another day. It’s the American people and especially our younger generations who suffer.”
Posted it themselves
“"The U.S. government now spends more money just on interest than it does to fund the entire US Military or to provide healthcare for seniors.” Every Republican should address this going into the midterms and commit to cutting spending and focusing on affordability.”
Posted it themselves
“In the next two weeks, our country will hit $40 trillion in debt. It’s one of the biggest problems facing young Americans right now, yet politicians in Washington and around the country aren’t even discussing it. We’re leaving an entire generation broke.”
on the national debt nearing 40 trillion dollars
Posted it themselves
“Washington is borrowing $60,000 a second and paying $24 BILLION a week in interest alone. Our national debt is spiraling while the House is on summer vacation and the Senate can’t wait to take their own.”
Posted it themselves
“Who still carries out public executions: The Iranian regime The North Korean regime The Taliban in Afghanistan Al-Shabaab in Somalia That is not the company we want to keep or the country we want to be.”
on the US carrying out public executions, in a list of regimes that do
Posted it themselves
“Over 400,000 Americans gave their lives in World War II fighting tyranny and evil. Desecrating the memorial that honors them isn’t free speech or activism, it’s vandalism, and it’s disgusting. Make an example of the person who did this, prosecute her and anyone involved to the fullest extent.”
Posted it themselves
“A great night supporting @JennyHoneycutt for South Carolina's 1st Congressional District. Jenny will bring fiscal discipline to Washington, focus on affordability, back our law enforcement and military, and put South Carolinians first.”
on Haley's endorsement of Jenny Honeycutt in South Carolina's 1st Congressional District
Posted it themselves
“All of DC has come against Ralph—that’s exactly why we need him. He’s one of the few willing to confront our debt and deficits, demand transparency, and stand up to a government that has taken too much power from the people. Ralph is a conservative and a freedom fighter to his core. This job requires experience, and electing Ralph won’t just be good for South Carolina—it will be good for the health of our country.”
on Nikki Haley endorsing a candidate named Ralph in South Carolina
Posted it themselves
“Lindsey Graham was well informed on the United States’ national security. Darline Graham admits she’s not. This is not something you inherit. And it’s critical in the U.S. Senate.”
Posted it themselves
“Yes real crazy. My name on my birth certificate is Nikki. Was born and raised with that name. I married a Haley. Nikki Haley. Somehow makes me a weird Republican.”
on defending her legal birth name amid criticism
Posted it themselves
“Our son, Nalin, was born days before 9/11. The world he came into changed in an instant. Our security as Americans was taken away, and we witnessed true evil right before our eyes. Like many parents, we've struggled to explain to him and our daughter, who was three, how horrific that day was, and the enormous grief of an entire country. It's hard to describe the horror, followed by the outpouring of love Americans had for one another, resolved not to let evil win. Flags appeared on porches that had never flown them. First responders ran toward danger while the rest of the country found ways to support them. When sports came back, people in stadiums stood and sang proudly together. There was a feeling of unity that many had never known before and haven't known since. My children and their generation only know the world they inherited after 9/11. It is our responsibility to tell our stories and make sure we never forget what we experienced: the lives lost and the way this country answered its worst hour by showing our greatest strength—the goodness of the American people.”
Further reading
Paid link. If you buy a book through this link, Bookshop.org pays us a small commission and sends a share of the sale to independent bookstores.
In their own words
Nikki Haley · 2019
Haley recounts her tenure as US ambassador to the United Nations in the Trump administration, along with her earlier life as a South Carolina governor.
People, on the record
The daily brief connects each person’s exact words to the question they addressed and the people who answered. Free.
Arrives around 6am ET. Free, and it stays that way.
Cancel anytime. Nothing on the site goes behind a paywall.
One payment through Stripe. No account needed.
