ELECTIONS

'Are you doing OK?': Nikki Haley hits Donald Trump during 'Saturday Night Live' appearance

South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley made an appearance on “Saturday Night Live,” jabbing former President Donald Trump ahead of her home state's pivotal primary.  

The long-running comedy show opened with a sketch parodying a CNN town hall featuring Trump. After the fictional former president answered a question about conspiracy theories surrounding Taylor Swift and mocked Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., Haley appeared as a “concerned South Carolina voter.”  

“My question is: Why won’t you debate Nikki Haley?” she asked.   

The fictional Trump responded “Oh my God, it’s her, the woman who was in charge of security on Jan. 6. It’s Nancy Pelosi,” referencing a speech Trump gave last month where he appeared to confuse Haley and the former House speaker.

“Are you doing OK, Donald? You might need a mental competency test,” Haley responded, to which the fictional Trump, played by “SNL” cast member James Austin Johnson, shot back “I took the test, and I aced it, okay? Perfect score. They said I’m 100% mental.”  

As they traded insults, Johnson (as Trump) said “That’s not nice Nikki. And I’m always nice to you, except when I’m implying you weren’t born in this country.”  

Trump last month reposted a false report claiming incorrectly that Haley is ineligible for the presidency because her parents were not yet United States citizens when she was born. 

Nevertheless, Haley also faced criticism during the sketch. Actor Ayo Edebiri, who hosted the “SNL” episode, stood up to ask the former United Nations ambassador “What would you say was the main cause of the Civil War? And do you think it starts with an ‘S’ and ends with a ‘-lavery?’”  

“Yep, I probably should have said that the first time,” Haley responded.  

The former South Carolina governor prompted widespread backlash last year after she was asked by a voter at a campaign stop what caused the Civil War. Haley in her response failed to mention slavery.