South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley impressed some Democrats and moderate Republicans with her Republican response to the State of the Union Tuesday night — but there’s already backlash brewing on the conservative right.
“Trump should deport Nikki Haley,” conservative commentator Ann Coulter tweeted part way through Haley’s speech. She later added: “Nikki Haley says ‘welcoming properly vetted legal immigrants, regardless of religion.’ Translation: let in all the Muslims.”
Radio host Laura Ingraham also tweeted about Haley’s speech, writing, “[Former Obama official] Van Jones just praised Nikki Haley speech. Enough said.”
Too bad @NikkiHaley missed her oppty to stand w/ working ppl who want borders enforced, American workers put first, govt shrunk.
— Laura Ingraham (@IngrahamAngle) January 13, 2016The lines in the speech getting particular notice are those that seem to allude to Donald Trump — particularly when Haley said, “there’s a tendency to falsely equate noise with results.”
RELATED: Haley warns against following ‘angriest voices’ in GOP response
The quickly evolving sentiments underscore the deepening divide in the Republican Party – one that has many so-called “establishment” Republicans increasingly convinced that Trump is on his way to winning the nomination. It’s a reality, many believe, that will fundamentally reshape the GOP as it’s now known.
Haley’s speech won praise from Republicans who’ve opposed Trump.
“Proud of my friend @nikkihaley for delivering a positive & uplifting response to Pres. Obama’s #SOTU. Clear vision for a brighter future,” Jeb Bush wrote on Twitter. Other conservative pundits took to Twitter to defend the Palmetto State governor: Very good Nikki Haley speech. The Party of Ryan/Haley is a stark contrast to the Party of Trump. Democrats, too, praised Haley’s address. “Really effective speech by @nikkihaley. Avoided the Response to SOTU curse,” former Obama adviser David Axelrod wrote on Twitter. This article originally appeared on NBCNews.com.
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