Republican presidential candidate and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is facing accusations of misleading the audience at one of her town halls regarding the sale of land in South Carolina to China. The liberal Washington Post’s fact-checker, Glenn Kessler, awarded Haley “four Pinocchios” for her response to a question about the land sale.
During the town hall, an audience member asked Haley about rumors of her selling thousands of acres of land in South Carolina to China. Haley responded, “Don’t believe what you read on the internet… We didn’t sell any land to the Chinese. But, yes, I recruited a fiberglass company.” Kessler’s fact-check revealed that while the fiberglass deal did not involve the sale of land, Chinese companies did receive approximately 1,500 acres of land during Haley’s tenure as governor.
Kessler criticized Haley’s response as a “political sleight of hand” and stated that she denied something she wasn’t asked. He also highlighted that the fiberglass company in question, China Jushi, has connections to the Chinese Communist Party and established a manufacturing plant in South Carolina in 2016.
Haley defended her deal with China Jushi, emphasizing that attracting Chinese businesses is common among governors and that her focus was on economic development, not national security. However, Kessler pointed out that several other Chinese companies purchased land in South Carolina during Haley’s governorship.
The article also mentions that Chinese investment in glass manufacturing in America poses potential security threats, and Haley is portrayed as having a clear vision of the comprehensive nature of the Chinese threat to America. The Haley campaign declined to comment on the town hall comments, but a statement from a campaign spokesperson defended her actions and highlighted the need to address China’s influence in the country.
The allegations against Haley come at a crucial time as she is running for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2024 election. This controversy could impact her campaign and raise questions about her credibility. The article suggests that Haley’s response during the town hall was false and misleading, indicating potential issues with her transparency and handling of the China relationship.
Overall, this article highlights the accusations against Nikki Haley regarding the land sale to China and the criticism she has faced for her response during a town hall. It provides context about Haley’s tenure as governor, her focus on attracting Chinese businesses, and the potential security threats associated with Chinese investment in the United States. The article also touches upon Haley’s campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and the implications of this controversy.
