Here's the latest from the 2024 campaign trail:
- Former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are stumping in New Hampshire three days out from the state's primary.
- Haley questioned whether Trump was "mentally fit" after he confused her with Nancy Pelosi at a rally. Trump pressures Supreme Court to 'do things right.'
- A new tracking poll shows Trump is maintaining his double-digit lead over the GOP field in the Granite State.
- Haley is reserving $4 million of ad time in South Carolina starting the day after the New Hampshire primary.
- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis plans to return to New Hampshire tomorrow after spending the day in South Carolina.
Haley supporter clashes with DeSantis about her achievements as governor
LEXINGTON, S.C. — A Haley supporter confronted DeSantis this evening after he asked a crowd to list Haley’s achievements from her tenure as the governor of South Carolina, a question he’s posed at multiple events there.
Regina Wasiluk, a fourth-grade teacher from northeast Columbia, started to mention a third-grade retention program before DeSantis cut her off. When she continued to press the Florida governor, he interjected, “It’s not your show, ma’am. It’s not your show,” before continuing with his typical stump speech.
“I was very upset by the governor’s reaction and his inability to answer my question honestly,” said Wasiluk, who added that she has not spoken to the Haley campaign.
Trump praises Hungarian President Viktor Orbán: 'It's nice to have a strongman running the country'
Trump, onstage in Manchester, offered praise for Hungary's authoritarian president Viktor Orbán: "Some people don’t like him because he’s too strong. It’s nice to have a strongman running the country."
Earlier in the speech, Trump had talked about the need for full presidential immunity to ensure a president doesn’t fear prosecution. “You have to give a president full and total immunity,” he said after suggesting Harry Truman would have feared prosecution for dropping the atomic bomb.
Trump says he hopes the Supreme Court justices he appointed 'are willing to do things right'
During his rally tonight, Trump made a plea to the Supreme Court to rule in his favor this year.
"I hope the Republican justices are willing to do things right," he said, after complaining that the justices "want to go out of their way to be politically correct."
Trump has asked the high court to overturn a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that removed him from the state’s primary ballot. The high court may also take up his claim that presidential immunity should protect him from prosecution for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
Trump kicks protester out of Manchester rally
A protester interrupted Trump's rally in Manchester tonight and began rushing the stage for a couple of seconds before he was grabbed by security.
"Get him out of here," Trump said as a crowd of his supporters booed.
As security escorted the protester away, he shouted "dictator!" The crowd cheered, "USA! USA!"
Rep. Ro Khanna pushes back against 'cease-fire' write-in campaign in N.H.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., encouraged those who are planning to write in the word "cease-fire" on their New Hampshire primary ballots to engage in other forms of protest instead, like demonstrating at the U.S. Capitol or the White House.
"I think there are a lot of ways to express the view for a cease-fire," Khanna said. "What I encourage the people who are protesting, come to Capitol. ... You can stand outside the White House, you can protest ... on the Capitol, but think about the choice we face."
"I guarantee you if when the choice is Joe Biden or Donald Trump, that President Biden is going to do a lot more to safeguard civilian lives in Gaza, to create a Palestinian state with an Israeli state, than Donald Trump," Khanna continued.
Khanna, who himself supports a cease-fire in Gaza, was in New Hampshire to attend several events for a group that is organizing a write-in campaign for Biden.
He reiterated his belief that a win is a win for the Biden write-in campaign on Tuesday, no matter the margin.
“I think as long as he has the most votes,” said Khanna as to what he’d consider a success on Jan. 23.
Haley rally interrupted by climate protesters
NASHUA, N.H. — Minutes into Haley speaking in Nashua, the presidential hopeful was interrupted by three separate protesters challenging her on climate change.
All three were promptly removed from the venue.
Haley did not seem fazed. She stood calmly on stage and stated that anyone who has something to say should be free to do so, citing freedom of speech. Haley then continued her remarks without further interruption.
Earlier in the day, Haley reiterated her moderate stance on climate change.
“Yes, I think climate change is real. But stop with the extremes," she said at a meet-and-greet in Rindge this afternoon.
DeSantis to campaign in N.H. through Tuesday, spokesman says
DeSantis campaign spokesman Bryan Griffin said the presidential candidate's appearances on NBC's "Meet the Press" and CNN's "State of the Union" were canceled due to a "scheduling issue."
He added in a post on X that DeSantis would campaign in New Hampshire starting Sunday evening through primary day on Tuesday.
Haley and Phillips celebrate their birthdays on the campaign trail
Nikki Haley and Dean Phillips are both celebrating their birthdays today on the campaign trail in New Hampshire.
Haley, now 52, celebrated at several campaign stops today. She received maple syrup from the mayor in Keene, was provided pepperoni pizza during a stop in Rindge, and poured herself a pint of Guinness at a bar in Nashua.
Phillips, who turned 55, blew out candles on a birthday cake at an event in Nashua.
Both candidates have sought to make the advanced ages of Biden, 81, and Trump, 77, a major issue in their campaigns.
If either Haley or Phillips were elected, they would be the first president to be inaugurated on their birthday.
DeSantis cancels planned appearance on ‘Meet the Press’
After committing to appear on “Meet the Press” on Sunday, DeSantis has pulled out of the appearance due to what a person familiar with the situation says is a last-minute schedule change.
This source tells NBC News the reason is DeSantis is now traveling from South Carolina to New Hampshire on Sunday for at least one event in the evening.
DeSantis is also no longer appearing on CNN on Sunday as previously scheduled.
The Florida governor's campaign has now announced that DeSantis will participate in a "meet and greet" with supporters in Manchester, New Hampshire, Sunday evening.
DeSantis chides House GOP for 'not doing anything' with their majority
FLORENCE, S.C. — DeSantis knocked House Republicans for “not doing anything” with their majority other than “increasing spending.”
"We got to win these big battles," DeSantis said. "We can’t just go up there and twist in the wind anymore."
During a quick visit to a local restaurant filled with supporters, DeSantis also criticized the Senate's border deal proposal, saying it "is basically bringing in more immigrants."
"How is that something that people are asking for? I haven’t heard any voter actually ask that that be done," he said.
Freezing lines outside Trump event shows his supporters' commitment
MANCHESTER, N.H. — It's a raw and overcast 17 degrees outside, and Trump is not scheduled to speak until 7 p.m. ET, but his supporters started lining up outside the SNHU Arena well before noon, with nothing but their clothes to break the wind.
Banners flew and one man with an oversize Trump flag on a 20-foot pole ran up and down the line to cheers and chants of "U-S-A!"
Nearby, on Manchester's main drag, lifted pickup trucks and RVs festooned with giant Trump flags and conservative signs patrolled, blaring patriotic songs as their drivers honked and passengers leaned out windows to cheer.
The scene underscores the enthusiasm that Trump enjoys, unique in American politics, which polls show is one of his biggest strengths in both the Republican primary and his likely general election rematch against Joe Biden.
These die-hard Trump supporters are far from a majority of the country, but they are a sizable plurality and have stuck with the former president though eight tumultuous years since he announced his first campaign in 2015.
A few blocks away, at an outdoor event for the write-in campaign backing Biden, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu brought Dunkin' Donuts coffee and thanked everyone for coming out in the cold. The crowd was appropriately enthusiastic, but did not linger and quickly broke up after the brief speeches were over.
Asa Hutchinson throws support behind Haley for N.H. primary
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, the anti-Trump Republican who dropped out of the presidential race following a poor showing in the Iowa caucuses, is backing Haley ahead of the New Hampshire primary.
Haley: 'Of course' I was disappointed Tim Scott endorsed Trump
PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — Haley acknowledged that she was disappointed that Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., whom she appointed to his seat, decided to back Trump over her.
"First of all, was I disappointed? Of course, I was disappointed," said Haley. "He’s got to live with that decision. I don’t have to live with that decision."
Haley predicted that she won't receive "a whole lot of legislative endorsements in South Carolina" because she "forced them to have to start showing their votes on the record against their will" when she was governor.
"I forced them to pass ethics reform, even though they didn’t want to do it. I forced them and called their hand on the wasteful spending. I vetoed half a billion dollars, all their pet projects. So there is a reason there’s no love for me from the legislature in South Carolina," she continued.
Haley similarly said her calls for policies like term limits and mental competency tests would prevent her from receiving many congressional endorsements.
"I call elected officials out because accountability matters," Haley said. "I fight for the real people. I don’t fight for the politicians."
Asked about Trump campaigning alongside South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, who was lieutenant governor when Haley was governor, she was much more dismissive.
"I’m sorry. Is that the person I ran against for governor and beat? Just checking," she quipped, referencing the 2010 campaign for South Carolina governor.
DeSantis downplays importance of Trump's South Carolina endorsements
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. — DeSantis attempted to undercut the significance of South Carolina politicians lining up behind Trump, saying his second-place finish in Iowa shows that "there's a limit to what the leadership can do."
“Iowa Republican leadership lined up behind me and we came in second. So, I think, like, there’s a limit to what the leadership can do,” DeSantis, who nabbed the highly sought-after endorsement of Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, told NBC News after a town hall event here.
Pressed about why he is choosing to focus on South Carolina’s primary rather than the rapidly approaching New Hampshire contest, DeSantis told reporters his campaign is “doing what we think we need to do to accumulate delegates.”
Hoping South Carolina will serve as a more conservative springboard for his campaign, the governor called into question Haley’s conservative credentials, though he ultimately steered clear of attacking the audience’s former governor more than a handful of times.
DeSantis is set to spend the next several days in South Carolina as his competitors crisscross the Granite State. It remains unclear whether DeSantis will return to New Hampshire for Tuesday’s primary.
Haley devotes $4 million to ads in South Carolina
MANCHESTER, N.H — Haley is reserving $4 million of ad time in South Carolina starting the day after the New Hampshire primary, a signal from the campaign to voters, donors and the news media that she plans to continue her quest for the Republican presidential nomination.
"It will be a statewide buy in all seven markets," Betsy Ankney, Haley's campaign manager, told reporters at a forum sponsored by Bloomberg News Saturday. She said that it would cover broadcast, cable, digital, radio and "OTT" — or over-the-top — ads.
Ankney, who announced the buy in the context of assuring reporters that Haley would remain in the race regardless of whether she pulls off an upset in New Hampshire on Tuesday, said the candidate would also hold a "big event" Wednesday night in Charleston.
Haley questions Trump's mental fitness after he mistakes her for Pelosi
KEENE, N.H. — Haley questioned Trump’s mental acuity after he mistakenly suggested she was responsible for security during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots instead of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Last night, Trump is at a rally and he’s mentioning me multiple times as to why I didn’t take security during the Capital riots,” Haley said. “Why didn’t he know Jan. 6 better? I wasn’t even in D.C. on Jan. 6. I wasn’t in office then.”
"They’re saying he got confused, that he was talking about something else," she continued. "He’s talking about Nancy Pelosi. He mentioned me multiple times in that scenario."
Haley then questioned the former president’s mental sharpness, saying, “We can’t have someone else that we question whether they’re mentally fit to do this. We can’t.”
During a rally in Concord last night, Trump falsely blamed Haley for not providing adequate soldiers in the immediate aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol Hill riots. The former president seemingly meant to name Pelosi.
“Nikki Haley, you know they, do you know they destroyed all of the information, all of the evidence, everything, deleted and destroyed all of it. All of it, because of lots of things like Nikki Haley is in charge of security. We offered her 10,000 people, soldiers, National Guard, whatever they want. They turned it down. They don’t want to talk about that. These are very dishonest people,” Trump said.
Trump has previously accused Pelosi of turning down 10,000 soldiers on Jan. 6, a claim that has been debunked.
Stefanik says Trump 'has not lost a step,' denies he mixed up Haley and Pelosi
MANCHESTER, N.H. — Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., balked at the idea that Trump has “lost a step” in an interview with NBC News, insisting that despite the former president mistakenly referring to Haley instead of Nancy Pelosi at a rally last night, it “wasn’t a mix-up” at all.
“The reality is Nikki Haley is relying on Democrats, just like Nancy Pelosi, to try to have a desperate showing,” Stefanik said.
Pressed by NBC News that Trump was talking about Jan. 6 when he misspoke, Stefanik doubled down: “President Trump has not lost a step. He is a stronger candidate” now than in 2016.
Stefanik also dodged multiple times when asked whether she'd vote to certify the 2024 election results should Biden win again.
Asked whether she wanted to join the ranks of Trump’s potential running mates, Stefanik said she’s “focused” on her job in Congress and that “it’s a long time between now and November.”
Stefanik appeared this morning at Trump's campaign headquarters in New Hampshire, where she was met with "VP" chants.
Police won’t charge former Florida GOP chair with sexual battery, forward voyeurism allegations to prosecutors
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Christian Ziegler will not face sexual battery charges, but prosecutors will consider whether to charge him with video voyeurism stemming from a monthslong investigation, according to a statement from the Sarasota Police Department.
The investigation started after an Oct. 2 sexual encounter between Ziegler and an unnamed woman, who later alleged to police in a complaint that Ziegler “raped” her. After interviewing dozens of people and reviewing surveillance footage, the police department in Sarasota, where Ziegler lives, determined it was “unable to develop probable cause” for a charge of sexual battery.
Police did, however, send a probable cause affidavit to prosecutors for video voyeurism, a felony crime, because Ziegler allegedly taped the sexual encounter without the woman’s knowledge, the Sarasota police said.
Sununu: Haley 'doesn’t have to win' N.H. primary
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, a key Haley backer, said on Fox News this morning that the former U.N. ambassador "doesn’t have to win" Tuesday's primary and that it was "never the expectation" for her to do so.
"If Nikki Haley was winning huge against Donald Trump right now, people’s jaws would drop," Sununu said. "That was never the expectation."
"She can win. She doesn’t have to win," Sununu went on to say. "The goal was always to make it a one-on-one race."
Asked about Sen. Tim Scott's endorsement of Trump, Sununu called it "disrespectful."
"As it was noted, Nikki actually gave him his job at the U.S. Senate," Sununu said, referring to Haley appointing Scott to the seat in 2012 when she was the governor of South Carolina. "For me, I find it disrespectful more than anything."
Trio of South Carolina Republicans to attend Trump rally tonight
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster and two Republican members of the state's congressional delegation, Reps. Russell Fry and William Timmons, will attend Trump’s rally tonight in Manchester, according to three sources familiar with their travel plans.
McMaster, Fry and Timmons were early Trump endorsers this cycle, joining the former president's 2024 South Carolina leadership team and appearing with him at an event in January 2023.
The move is an attempt to counter Haley, the former South Carolina governor, as she tries to build momentum in the final days before the New Hampshire primary.
It also comes as DeSantis campaigns today in South Carolina, where he hopes to gain traction among the state's more conservative electorate ahead of the Feb. 24 primary.
Another South Carolina Republican, Sen. Tim Scott, endorsed Trump at a rally in Concord last night. And Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., was an early supporter of Trump's 2024 bid.
Haley to air 3-minute closing TV ad in N.H.
Haley’s campaign will air a three-minute TV ad in New Hampshire on Monday as part of her closing argument to voters on the eve of the state's primary.
The ad features Cindy Warmbier, whose son, Otto, was murdered by the North Korean government in 2017 during Haley’s tenure at the U.N. Haley has shared Cindy's story in her book about female leadership, and Cindy spoke at Haley’s presidential announcement in Charleston in the spring of last year.
And as much as the ad is about Haley’s leadership on the world stage and moral conviction as a mother, it also provides a contrast with the way Haley and Trump talks about dictators like Kim Jong Un.
A campaign statement about the ad said: “Donald Trump played an important role in bringing Otto’s body home and holding North Korea accountable, but he switched his tune when he ‘fell in love’ with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. Trump publicly absolved Kim of Otto’s death, saying, ‘I don’t believe that he [Kim] would have allowed that to happen. … And some really bad things happened to Otto — some really, really bad things. But he tells me that he didn’t know about it, and I will take him at his word.’”
A three-minute long ad is unusual for campaigns, which typically air 30-60-second spots on TV.
Trump maintains lead in N.H. tracking poll
The latest Suffolk University/NBC10 Boston/Boston Globe tracking poll finds Trump maintaining his double-digit advantage over the GOP field heading into Tuesday's New Hampshire primary.
Trump is at 53% among likely voters, followed by Haley with 36% and DeSantis with 7%. Those numbers have been largely consistent in the tracking poll throughout the week.
The survey of of 500 likely Republican primary voters in New Hampshire was conducted Jan. 18-19 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
Where the 2024 candidates are today
With three days to go until the New Hampshire primary, Trump will hold an evening rally in Manchester. Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., a possible vice presidential choice, is attending a Trump campaign event in Manchester this morning.
Haley is set to hold four events in the Granite State today as she attempts to close the gap with Trump.
DeSantis, who is mired in the single digits in the polls in New Hampshire, is looking ahead to South Carolina. He has three events on the schedule today in the Palmetto State, which holds its GOP primary on Feb. 24.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden's long-shot challengers, Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and author Marianne Williamson are campaigning in New Hampshire ahead of the state's unsanctioned Democratic primary.