Nikki Haley Slams Vivek Ramaswamy After He Brings Up Her Daughter at GOP Debate: ‘You’re Just Scum’

The Republican presidential hopefuls went after each other at Wednesday’s debate as they discussed TikTok for the second time

AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, Joe Raedle/Getty

Republican presidential candidate hopefuls Nikki Haley (left) and Vivek Ramaswamy participate in the third GOP debate

Nikki Haley had no patience for Vivek Ramaswamy’s digs at her family during Wednesday’s Republican presidential debate on NBC.

Haley, 51, and Ramaswamy, 38, were joined by fellow presidential hopefuls Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott. Notably missing, once again, was former President Donald Trump, who held a rally nearby in Miami instead of facing his opponents.

Throughout the program, the candidates discussed the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas, discredited Trump and traded jabs at each other about social media.

Related: Mike Pence Drops Out of 2024 Presidential Race: ‘This Is Not My Time’

At one point, Ramaswamy — a far-right entrepreneur who is new to the political arena — made things personal for Haley as he called out her daughter, Rena, 25, for using TikTok, a popular Chinese-owned social media platform that has become a hot-button issue in the Republican Party over national security concerns.

“In the last debate she made fun of me for actually joining TikTok, well her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time so you might want to take care of your family first before preaching to anybody else,” Ramaswamy said.

Haley, who formerly served as South Carolina governor and as the U.N. ambassador under Trump, shot back at Ramaswamy, telling him, “Leave my daughter out of your voice.”

As Ramaswamy continued, Haley added, “You’re just scum.”

Related: Nikki Haley Slams Vivek Ramaswamy at Second GOP Debate: ‘Every Time I Hear You I Feel a Little Bit Dumber’

MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty

Former Governor of South Carolina and United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley and her daughter Rena Haley

After the debate, Ramaswamy told CNN that “it’s not a sin to be on TikTok,” but defended his argument, saying the remark was intended to highlight Haley’s leadership abilities rather than critique her daughter.

“I think the error is somebody sanctimoniously lecturing the rest of the country, about the perils of it, while actually failing to set an example of leadership a little closer to home,” he told the outlet.

Related: Former GOP Congressman Will Hurd Drops Out of Presidential Race, Endorses Rising Candidate Nikki Haley

Joe Raedle/Getty

Republican presidential candidates (L-R), former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) are introduced during the NBC News Republican Presidential Primary Debate

The two presidential hopefuls have gone at each other in previous debates, too — with TikTok in particular being a source of antagonism.

During the Sept. 28 debate, Ramaswamy said he was open to using the social media platform as a way to connect with younger voters. “We need to win elections and part of how we win elections is reaching the next generation of young Americans where they are,” he explained.

Haley interjected and dismissed the idea, calling it “infuriating” as she said TikTok is “one of the most dangerous social media assets that we could have.”

She continued: “Honestly, every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber for what you say.”

Related: Nikki Haley Slams Donald Trump in GOP Debate: ‘Most Disliked Politician in America’

Ramaswamy was relatively unknown in the political world — at least, nationally — before entering the Republican race.

Since announcing his campaign, he’s garnered headlines for being outspoken against companies using their platforms for social causes. He has also criticized critical race theory, diversity programs and efforts to stop climate change.

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