Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

US slavery history denial puts Haley in a corner

Scholars agree that slavery was the main driver of the Civil War, and Haley's obfuscation prompted swift rebuttals

US slavery history denial puts Haley in a corner

US PRESIDENTIAL hopeful Nikki Haley faced a firestorm of criticism last Thursday (28) after failing to mention slavery as a cause of the American Civil War when asked what led to the conflict at a campaign event.

With fewer than two weeks before voting begins in the primary race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, it was the first major stumble for a candidate who has gone from an unlikely outsider to front-runner Donald Trump’s biggest threat.


The former UN ambassador told a town hall crowd last Wednesday (27) in Berlin, New Hampshire, that the cause of the 1861-65 war was “basically how the government was going to run” and “freedoms and what people could and couldn’t do”.

She added, “It always comes down to the role of government and what the rights of the people are.” When she turned the debate back at the questioner, he responded he was not the one running for president, and it was “astonishing” slavery hadn’t come up in her answer.

Scholars agree that slavery was the main driver of the Civil War, and Haley’s obfuscation prompted swift rebuttals. “It was about slavery,” president Joe Biden said, responding on social media.

Haley, 51, attempted to clear up her comments in a local radio interview last Thursday in New Hampshire, affirming that “of course the Civil War was about slavery, that’s the easy part”.

She accused the town hall questioner – who refused to identify himself to reporters – of being a “Democratic plant” sent to damage her campaign and boost Trump, who is considered a weaker prospect against Biden in the general election.

Trump commands a lead of more than 20 points in polling for New Hampshire’s January 23 primary.

However, Haley has been gaining ground, overtaking Florida governor Ron DeSantis as the former president’s biggest threat.

DeSantis’s spokesman Andrew Romeo called Haley’s clarification “embarrassing”.

“If she can’t handle a question as basic as the cause of the Civil War, what does she think is going to happen to her in a general election? The Democrats would eat her for lunch,” Romeo posted on X, formerly Twitter.

DeStantis, who is a distant second behind Trump in nationwide primary polling, has sparked controversy in his own state over the teaching of race, a delicate issue that divides Americans.

And Trump himself has been berated on both sides of the political divide and accused of echoing Adolf Hitler for remarks about undocumented migrants “poisoning the blood” of the nation.

Haley, who has a history of stirring controversy on America’s Confederate past, raised eyebrows over her views on the Civil War during her successful run for South Carolina governor in 2010.

She was praised in 2015 when she signed legislation removing the Confederate flag from the State House after a white supremacist killed nine people at a church in Charleston. But she had vowed to leave the flag up during her campaign, arguing that “every state has different conditions and every state has certain things that they hold as part of their heritage.”

Democratic National Committee chairman Jaime Harrison said her latest remarks were “not stunning” to any black residents of South Carolina during her term in office.

“Some may have forgotten but I haven’t. Time to take off the rose-colored Nikki Haley glasses, folks,” he said. (AFP)

More For You

Thousands rally in UK for trans rights after landmark ruling

Members of the public gather in Parliament Square with banners and placards as part of the Trans Liberation emergency Protest on April 19, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Ben Montgomery/Getty Images)

Thousands rally in UK for trans rights after landmark ruling

THOUSANDS of people on Saturday (19) rallied in London and Edinburgh in support of trans rights, after a landmark UK court ruling on the definition of a "woman".

Supreme Court last Wednesday (16) ruled that the legal definition of a "woman" is based on a person's sex at birth, with potentially far-reaching consequences for how single-sex spaces and services are run.

Keep ReadingShow less
'20 attacks on US fast-food chains in Pakistan this month'

FILE PHOTO: Supporters of Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba (IJT), a student wing of Pakistan's Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party stage a pro-Palestinian protest outside a Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) restaurant calling for boycott of Israeli products on the outskirts of Islamabad on May 7, 2024

'20 attacks on US fast-food chains in Pakistan this month'

PAKISTAN government disclosed that at least 20 outlets of American fast-food chains across the country were attacked by religious extremists this month during the anti-Israel protests.

One employee of the KFC outlet was killed and almost 160 suspects arrested.

Keep ReadingShow less
pubs-england-iStock

Previous VE Day anniversaries, royal events and sporting occasions such as the Euro 2024 final have also seen similar extensions. (Representational image: iStock)

iStock

Pubs in England and Wales to stay open late for VE Day 80th anniversary

PUBS and bars in England and Wales will be allowed to stay open until 01:00 BST on Thursday 8 May to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the government has confirmed.

Prime minister Keir Starmer said venues that usually close at 23:00 will be able to continue serving for two extra hours.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bangladesh-Pakistan

The meeting took place days ahead of Pakistani deputy prime minister and foreign minister Ishaq Dar's scheduled visit to Dhaka on April 27 and 28. (Photo: X/@ForeignOfficePk)

Bangladesh, Pakistan resume top-level talks after 15 years

BANGLADESH on Thursday raised several longstanding concerns with Pakistan, including a public apology over the 1971 atrocities, during the first foreign secretary-level talks between the two countries in 15 years.

Bangladesh also asked Pakistan to pay USD 4.3 billion as its share of undivided assets from when East Pakistan became independent Bangladesh in 1971.

Keep ReadingShow less
Keir Starmer

Starmer thanked Christians for their community work, including support through night shelters, youth clubs, toddler groups, family services, elderly care and chaplaincy. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer thanks Christians for community work in Easter message

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer extended Easter wishes to Christians across the UK, marking the end of Lent and the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

In his Easter message, Starmer said the story of Easter is central to the Christian faith. He acknowledged Christians facing hardship, persecution or conflict globally who cannot celebrate freely.

Keep ReadingShow less