Nikki Haley on “Face the Nation,” July 30, 2023

The next is a transcript of an interview with former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who’s working for president, which can air on “Face the Nation” on July 30, 2023.

MARGARET BRENNAN: And we need to go now to Des Moines, Iowa, the place former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, is campaigning. Good morning to you.

NIKKI HALEY: Hello, Margaret. It is nice to be with you.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  There’s a lot to get to with you. I need to begin on a number of the information of this week and your imaginative and prescient. In a Haley administration, will you implement all legal guidelines regarding categorized info?

NIKKI HALEY: Completely. , once I was on the United Nations, there have been actually strict guidelines on the way you dealt with categorized info. You could not even depart the room and depart one thing sitting in your desk. I imply, they gave you actual strict directions. And I feel what we have seen is, there should be directions as a President leaves as properly. As anybody leaves their submit, I feel we have to have somebody go and reinforce what you’ll be able to and may’t do, and be sure that they do these inspections. I do not suppose that is been occurring with presidents previously. And I feel we have to begin doing that going ahead.

MARGARET BRENNAN:   Nicely, we discovered this week in that superseding indictment that as a personal citizen, Mr. Trump on two events, considered one of them recorded on tape, confirmed categorized paperwork associated to warfare plans for Iran to others. In July 2021, he confirmed a plan of assault ready for him by a senior navy official. On one other date, he confirmed a member of his political motion committee a categorized map for a navy operation. These are federal crimes. Ought to Trump face prosecution?

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, I’ve stated earlier than that if these- if these accusations are true, it is extremely harmful to our nationwide safety. However once more, that is coming down from a Division of Justice that, frankly, the American folks do not belief. And so I feel we’ve to attend and see what the proof comes down as, he is acquired to defend himself. And we’ll wait and see as that comes collectively.

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MARGARET BRENNAN:  You do not consider this indictment, the recordings, and the proof as collected by legislation enforcement?

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, I feel we have to see it. , I feel we have heard about it. I feel that we all know that there is one thing on the market. However look, everyone’s harmless till they’re confirmed responsible. And like I stated, if that is true, it is extremely harmful to our nationwide safety. And I feel that may play out, however I feel that we’ve to go and see what all of the info are.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Two different defendants named on this indictment, Carlos De Oliveira and Trump bodyman Walt Nauta, have been allegedly instructed to delete safety digital camera footage. And the main points on this indictment are very particular. It says only a day after Trump acquired the subpoena requesting the video, they went to the basement and seemed on the safety cameras. Two days later, De Oliveira took apart a fourth worker, went by way of a basement tunnel to a small room, and requested about what number of days the server retained footage from these surveillance cameras. He then instructed one other worker, the boss needed the server deleted. Does that sound kosher to you?

NIKKI HALEY: No, I imply, none of that sounds good. The identical method it did not sound good when Hillary erased her emails. I imply, what we’re taking a look at Margaret is, we have had this occurring for years the place persons are not held accountable. And what we need to say is there should not be a double commonplace, it would not matter when you’re Republican or Democrat, it would not matter when you’re Hillary, or when you’re Trump, you should not be erasing something except you will have one thing to cover. However everyone must be handled the identical method. And that is what the American persons are annoyed about. It isn’t that they do not need folks held accountable. They simply need everybody to be handled pretty. And proper now, they do not belief the Division of Justice. They do not belief the intelligence companies. I feel they now must go and show that that is truly what passed off. And I feel Trump now has to defend himself. However let’s not overlook that we’ve watched issues occur with Biden and Hillary previously. And there are simply as many questions there than there are solutions. And what we’re saying is, deal with all of them the identical.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay

NIKKI HALEY: We have to know precisely what occurred with all of them.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  Do you belief these profession prosecutors who’ve been engaged on this case? Do you belief the Division of Justice?

NIKKI HALEY: I do not know that the American folks do belief the Division of Justice.

MARGAET BRENNAN: Do you?

NIKKI HALEY: I feel it is upon them to point out us that we will show them. As a result of I feel proper now, we really feel like there have been a whole lot of cowl ups. And that is not what we need to see.

MARGARET BRENNAN:  Do you belief the Division of Justice your self?

NIKKI HALEY: Proper now, if I turn out to be president, the very first thing we will do is we’re going to ensure we clear up any sort- we’ll clear it up from the highest and all of senior administration. They’ve weaponized and put politics within the Division of Justice over years. That should finish, that is not the function of the Division of Justice. , whether or not it is the Hunter Biden, the place we now have extra questions, and we’ve solutions on what occurred with international actors and what was paid and why it was paid. Or whether or not it is the very fact with Trump and whether or not these issues are literally the case they usually had that info. Why did it take so lengthy for them to come back out about, you realize, Hunter’s laptop computer, and why are they persevering with to maneuver so aggressively on Trump? We wish equity. The American folks need transparency, throw all of it on the market and allow us to resolve. Do not cover sure issues, do not push out sure issues. Let’s make it clear. Transparency cures all issues. That is what folks need from the Division of Justice. That is what they need from the intelligence companies. They do not need to have favoritism with anyone.

MARGARET BRENNAN:   Okay. So you’ve got stated previously, although, you’ll be inclined to pardon Donald Trump. That assumes he’ll be convicted, that assumes he had one thing to cover right here. Has your place modified? Would you continue to pardon him?

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, I’ve- what I’ve stated is that if he’s discovered responsible, that’s definitely displaying that it was harmful to our nationwide safety, however I am going to take you again to Nixon and Ford. I imply, I feel that one of many issues we’ve to take a look at just isn’t what’s in the very best curiosity of, you realize, the president, however what’s in the very best curiosity of the nation. We’ve to maneuver ahead. We have to give up dwelling previously, and I do not need there to be all of this division over the truth that we’ve a president serving years in jail over a paperwork trial. I need all of this to go away. It is why we’ve to have a brand new generational chief. It is why we have to transfer ahead. We will not preserve dwelling with indictments and court docket circumstances and vengeance of the previous. We have to begin going ahead. American persons are not speaking about these indictments. What they need to know is how we will cope with the debt and the reckless spending by Republicans and Democrats, how we will have transparency in our children’ colleges and catch them again up once more, how we will repair a lawless border, and the way we will be sure that we truly begin coping with nationwide safety as a result of America seems so weak proper now. These are the issues I hear about on the town halls. Individuals are annoyed with the indictments, they’re annoyed with the weaponization. They need to understand how authorities’s going to work for them.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Yeah. Nicely, on the difficulty of nationwide safety, that is precisely why I requested you about these very particular examples that endanger nationwide safety that have been named within the indictment, allegedly. You’ve stated previously that you’d help Donald Trump if he is the- wins the nomination, however he cannot win a common election. Do you suppose then that he ought to drop out?

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, I feel that he’s going to be, you realize, as a substitute of engaged on all these points that People need to speak about, what we do not should be speaking about is what Trump has to do to defend himself and so I do not suppose it is constructive. I do not suppose, you realize, whereas I feel he was the suitable president on the proper time, you realize, earlier and why I feel his insurance policies have been good, I do not suppose he is the suitable president on the proper time going ahead. I feel we have to maneuver ahead. In any other case, we could have a common election that is doing nothing however coping with lawsuits. , you’ve got acquired his first court docket case on the day of the Iowa caucuses. You have acquired one other court docket case that is going to be in Could when most likely a Republican candidate goes to already be determined. We will not have a common election the place we’re handing it over to Kamala Harris as a result of we’re coping with indictments and court docket circumstances and authorized problems with President Trump.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So it could enable you to get your message out and Republicans get their message out if he drops out. Is that what you are saying?

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, none of us need to be speaking about indictments. I do not even know if it is the third, fourth, or fifth indictment proper now, however what I can inform you is, it is a distraction, and admittedly, the media is speaking about it nonstop, however once I do these city halls, the American public just isn’t speaking to me about that. They are not asking me about indictments. They need to know what is going on to occur, how we will go and alter authorities for the higher. They’re nervous concerning the future for his or her children and I feel we owe it to them to be answering that, not how Trump’s going to defend himself.

MARGARET BRENNAN: On one of many massive problems with the day, in accordance with our newest CBS Information ballot, a majority of People suppose local weather change must be addressed. Most say it must be handled proper now. Republicans are aside on that, nearly half say it would not should be addressed. Do you suppose it does?

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, I feel local weather change is actual. I feel that we do must deal with it. All of us need an setting that has clear air, clear water to go away for our children and our grandkids, however I feel we should be sensible with the American folks. I imply, you realize, when you actually need to cope with the setting, why is not anybody severely speaking to China and India, who’re our greatest polluters? If we need to cope with the setting, let’s deal with ensuring we’re not–

(CROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: — John Kerry was simply in China and India.

NIKKI HALEY: And what did he come again with? Nothing. He got here again with nothing. And China stated we’ll cope with the setting on our personal arms. That is the issue is the Biden administration has been too good to China on coping with this. They are a large polluter, however let’s speak about what we need to do if we need to deal with power. What we do not need to do is go hat in hand to Saudi Arabia, or get soiled oil from Iran or Venezuela. What we do need to do is have a look at what does transitioning appear like. You’ll be able to’t do it tomorrow, however what you are able to do is transition and that is the place we are saying that allow’s do an all-of-the-above power strategy. Sure, there might be photo voltaic. Sure, there might be wind, however you’ll be able to’t do it tomorrow. That is not sensible and we do not need to be depending on different international locations for our power wants. So, let’s be sensible about what it takes. Let’s go after India and China and have the remainder of the world put stress on them to say sufficient is sufficient. I noticed once we pulled out of the Paris Local weather Settlement, the explanation we pulled out was not as a result of we did not need a clear setting. It is as a result of we had all of those laws pushed down on American companies, and on the American folks and China’s function within the Paris Local weather Settlement was, we are going to cope with it in 10 years. Nicely, as Kerry simply came upon, 10 years by no means comes for China.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Nicely, the U.S. can also be one of many greatest polluters on this planet. So, what would you modify right here at dwelling? What are you going to manage to drag again on- go forward.

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, that is simply not true. I imply, I feel when you have a look at China and India, we’re nowhere close to China and India. They get 60% of their power from coal. In case you have a look at what U.S. firms are doing, what we have to do is permit innovation to work. Let’s carry within the personal sector. Let’s speak about what we will do to really do that. After I was governor of South Carolina, once we recruited all these manufacturing firms, all of them needed to be inexperienced, not as a result of I made them or regulated them to do it as a result of they needed to be to- good stewards of the group and we- we- we praised them for it, we continued to incentivize. That is what we need to do is have a dialog with the personal sector and say, what might we do? How might we do it? Once you make companies your companions in having the good- having a superb setting, you discover out they’re the most important stewards of desirous to make issues proper, however do not ignore China and India on this course of, not when 60% of what they use is coal. That is not the suitable method to take a look at it going ahead. We have to begin placing stress on these which can be actually inflicting hurt to our local weather.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You have stated sanctions on China will not be working. And that as President, you’ll push Congress to revoke everlasting regular commerce relations till the circulate of fentanyl ends. Our two economies are extremely intertwined. How do you hit China with out having blowback right here at dwelling?

NIKKI HALEY: That is the precise response that the Europeans would have instructed you about Russia and have a look at the place that acquired them. That acquired them to the place they’re proper on the border of a Ukrainian Russian warfare. What we’ve to know is an enormous–

(ROSSTALK)

MARGARET BRENNAN: –China is the second strongest financial system on this planet–

NIKKI HALEY: –And China can also be our primary greatest nationwide safety menace, all it’s important to do is have a look at the infiltration they’re doing in our nation. They’ve gone and purchased 400,000 acres of U.S. soil close to our navy installations. They’re spending hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in our universities to steal our analysis and to unfold Chinese language propaganda. They’ve police stations in our nation. They purchased the most important pork producer on this planet, proper right here in Iowa. They’ve Chinese language entrance firms lobbying our Congress on behalf of the Chinese language Communist Celebration. They’ve stolen $600 billion a yr in mental property.  And with regards to our navy, they’re doing nuclear–

MARGARET BRENNAN: –So are you going to place extra tariffs on them?

NIKKI HALEY: –maintain on, that is not what I stated. They’re doing nuclear, they’re doing synthetic intelligence, they’re doing cyber. However Margaret, they’ve constructed up the most important naval fleet on this planet, they’ve 350 ships, they will have 400 in two years. We can’t even have 350 in twenty years. As a substitute, our navy’s taking gender pronoun lessons. We have to cope with China because the menace that they’re. The way in which I might cope with it’s primary, we would not permit them to purchase U.S. soil, we’d take the- the land that they purchased again from them. We’d go and say no extra, are we promoting any kind of delicate applied sciences that permit them to construct up their navy and threaten the U.S. We’d cease that. We’d inform our universities you both take Chinese language cash or American cash, however the days of taking each are over and we get that Chinese language infiltration out. And with regards to fentanyl, the primary reason for dying for adults 18 to 49 Margaret, is fentanyl. And do not suppose for a second China would not know what they’re doing. So what I might do is say to China, we are going to finish all regular commerce relations with you when- till you cease killing People. We’re shedding too many. We misplaced greater than the Afghanistan, Iraq and Vietnam wars mixed. 70,000 People final yr, it is unacceptable. We should be robust with China. They’re working throughout us. We’re ready to cope with China tomorrow whereas they’re coping with America right now.

MARGARET BRENNAN: So you’ll kick out the Chinese language producers who’ve invested within the state of South Carolina?

NIKKI HALEY: What I might say to the Chinese language producers is I might say, ‘Look, we’re going to ensure we all know precisely what you are doing’. We solely took lower than 2%. However I wish- I want the administration had instructed the governors what was occurring, what we have to do is be certain that there is no delicate know-how being stolen. We’d like to ensure there is no spying. We do no matter it takes, and let’s get these American firms out of China, and let’s begin coping with our allies. Once we speak about India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, we do not have to be getting medicines from China, we should be specializing in defending the American folks. And that is the way you go and say, ‘Okay, we will cope with China the way in which they need to be handled’.

MARGARET BRENNAN: You’ve been talking a good quantity about President Biden’s seventh grandchild who you’ve got stated he ought to acknowledge. On Friday, he did, in a press release saying, ‘It is a private matter, not a political one’. Do you settle for that request for privateness, given that there’s a 4 yr previous little one concerned?

NIKKI HALEY: Really, once I was speaking concerning the grandchildren, what I used to be saying is that we have to have time period limits in Congress and we have to have psychological competency assessments for anybody over the age of 75. And I do not say that to be disrespectful. I do not care when you do it for 50 and older. What I am saying is, these are folks in DC which can be making choices on our nationwide safety. They’re deciding the way forward for our children’ financial system. We have to know they’re on the prime of their sport. Once you go and have a look at Biden and you- and also you ask him what nation he was within the week earlier than, and he cannot say it. Once you go and ask him what number of grandchildren he has and he would not know. Once you go and see him falling asleep with leaders. That is regarding. And, and I do know, once I was on the United Nations. Leaders watch the health- the well being standing of different leaders. They’re watching Biden proper now. You see what occurred with McConnell, you see what occurred with Feinstein. We’ve too many points occurring that we have to begin ensuring that we do that. And these psychological competency assessments are straightforward. It is saying, ‘say 4 phrases that begin with the identical letter. What metropolis have been you born in? What number of grandkids do you will have?’ These are issues that folks ought to have the ability to reply.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Okay, so I need to observe up on that. However I feel, are you saying that you just consider the privateness of this little one must be handled as a non-political matter?

NIKKI HALEY: I have not paid consideration to what he stated when it comes to his interview. However in fact, with regards to household, we all the time need to preserve that non-public, that is positive. However while you go and also you speak about household values, and also you speak about all of that, it is odd that he would not acknowledge considered one of his grandchildren.

MARGARET BRENNAN: In case you’re president, I assume to get a whole lot of what you want achieved, it’s important to work with management. You’ve simply criticized Mitch McConnell, the Republican chief who’s 81 and had some points in entrance of a digital camera this week the place he appeared to to freeze a bit. Are you assured in his skill to steer as a result of he says he is gonna serve out his time period?

NIKKI HALEY: I feel Mitch McConnell did an incredible job with regards to our judiciary. Once we have a look at the judges, once we have a look at the Supreme Courtroom, he is been an amazing chief. However I do suppose that that is one- you realize, we have to cease electing folks as a result of they appear good within the image or they maintain a child properly. We have to cease electing folks as a result of we like them they usually’ve been there a very long time. That is truly the issue. It is advisable to have time period limits, as a result of we’d like new concepts, new options. We have to have a brand new technology. I hit Republicans and Democrats. We’re $32 trillion in debt. We’re having to borrow cash simply to make our curiosity funds. I might like to say Biden did that to us. However Republicans did that to us, too. And now they’ve opened up earmarks–

MARGARET BRENNAN: — So you are not assured?

NIKKI HALEY:  — And for the primary time, Republicans in the- in the- Republicans within the 24 price range requested for $7.4 billion {dollars} in earmarks. Democrats requested for $2.8 billion, who’re the massive spenders there? And so I am saying we have to know the worth of a greenback. What I’m saying about Mitch McConnell, Dianne Feinstein, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, all of them: know when to stroll away, know when to stroll away. We’ve large points that want new options. We’d like new generational leaders. We respect your service. We respect what you’ve got achieved. However for this reason we are going to combat for time period limits. We have to get it achieved in America,

MARGARET BRENNAN: Donald Trump is 77 years previous, would he go that psychological acuity check?

NIKKI HALEY: I do not know. I say everyone ought to take it. I am prepared to take I feel everyone else ought to take it–

MARGARET BRENNAN: — You did not record his identify while you listed all these older Washington lawmakers. Do you suppose he wants to–

NIKKI HALEY: — I simply stated we’d like a new- I simply stated we’d like a brand new generational chief. I imply, that goes- that goes for all of them. You’ll be able to look throughout DC. They’re all that, in fact, I am speaking about Trump. I’ve stated that each one all through this marketing campaign that it’s time for us to have a brand new technology. We have lost- Republicans have misplaced the final seven out of eight common votes for president. That is nothing to be happy with, we should always need to win nearly all of People, we have to begin going with a brand new technology in order that we will do this. We’ve to go away all of those older diplomats and Democrats- and Democrats and Republicans behind. And let’s begin coping with new options that the American folks can really feel like governments working for them once more,

MARGARET BRENNAN: Earlier than I allow you to go, I do need to ask you your ideas on Governor Ron DeSantis, he signed that legislation altering curriculums within the state of Florida with new requirements, as you realize, a whole lot of scrutiny about how slavery could be taught. Do you suppose he has overstepped by attacking a number of the Black Republicans in Congress who’ve stated they personally take subject with what he’s doing and the language that he’s defending?

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, I have not learn the precise curriculum that he proposed in Florida. However what I can say is it is the twenty first century. And I feel we will all agree that there was no- there have been no positives that got here out of slavery. And I feel everyone can and will agree on that.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Has he overstepped?

NIKKI HALEY: Nicely, I imply, I feel he must go and speak with the- with the Republicans and Democrats which have points with this. I imply, he simply ought to come out and say no positives got here out of slavery. I feel that is necessary to say. And I feel that is what these- these Republicans and Democrats have requested him to say. We’ll see what he does.

MARGARET BRENNAN: Understood. Thanks on your time right now. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

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