Haley Clarifies Comments on Civil War After Criticism

Ms. Haley faced criticism for not mentioning slavery when asked at New Hampshire town hall about the cause of the Civil War.

Former U.N. ambassador and 2024 Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley speaks at a town hall campaign event at Kennett High School in North Conway, N.H., on Dec. 28, 2023. Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley on Dec. 28 clarified comments she made about the Civil War that had attracted criticism.

“Of course the Civil War was about slavery. We know that. That’s the easy part of it,“ Ms. Haley told a New Hampshire radio show. ”What I was saying was: What does it mean to us today? What it means to us today is about freedom. That’s what that was all about.”