Haley slams Trump for Senate losses, calls out GOP lawmakers for courting him

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley blamed former President Trump Friday for recent Republican losses in critical electoral races, including those for seats in the Senate, while expressing hope the GOP's new leader in the upper chamber is focused on setting a tone rather than courting Trump.

"You're seeing the wave of what Congress thinks they need to do to win," Haley told reporters during a briefing at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington's Georgetown neighborhood.

Haley was likely referencing Trump's dominance over the House and Senate relative to endorsements and influence.

But Haley suggested lawmakers who cater to the former president are misguided because Republicans have lost pivotal matchups since his presidency.

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"All of these losses happened after Donald Trump became president in 2016," she said, noting gubernatorial, federal and statewide losses in Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia.

Haley claimed the only reason Gov. Glenn Youngkin, R-Va., was elected in 2021 was because "he distanced himself" from Trump.

Youngkin's political team declined to comment to Fox News Digital.

"It’s not an accurate statement," according to Zack Roday, a former Youngkin adviser and partner at Ascent Media.

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