Trump needles Nikki Haley but insists former GOP primary rival is ‘helping’ his campaign: ‘Nikki is in’ 

Former President Donald Trump said Friday that he doesn’t understand why Republicans are clamoring for Nikki Haley to join him on the campaign trail when he beat her “badly” in the primaries — while insisting that the former South Carolina governor is already “helping” with his White House run. 

“Yeah, I’ll do what I have to do,” Trump told “Fox and Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade, when asked if he plans on inviting Haley on the campaign trail. 

“But let me just tell you — Nikki Haley and I fought, and I beat her by 50, 60, 90 points,” the former president continued. “I beat her in her own state by numbers that nobody’s ever been beaten by. 

“I beat Nikki badly,” he emphasized. 

Trump, 78, acknowledged that he’s aware “everybody” is calling on him to utilize Haley, 52, in the final weeks of the campaign, but he seemed baffled by it. 

“They don’t say, ‘Get Ron [DeSantis],’ and Ron did very well, but again, I beat everybody by numbers that have never happened before,” he said. “And they keep talking about Nikki, Nikki.”

The former president argued that “even in her own state [South Carolina] …. I beat her by a number that nobody ever [thought was possible].” 

“Fifty points or something,” Trump continued, “and then they say, ‘Oh, when is Nikki coming back in?’” 

Haley was the first major GOP candidate to challenge Trump in the primaries — entering the race three months after the former president launched his campaign — and the last one standing. 

The former Trump administration official ended her White House bid in early March but she waited until late May to endorse Trump – and she didn’t release her delegates until July, just days before the Republican National Convention.   

“I like Nikki,” Trump insisted Friday, before adding, “Nikki, I don’t think should have done what she did, and that’s fine that she did it.”

Despite their bitter campaign, “Nikki is in,” the former president declared. 

“Nikki is helping us already,” Trump continued, “She’s out there.” 

Haley, who could be used to help court Republicans and independents leaning toward voting for Vice President Kamala Harris, has yet to appear on the campaign trail alongside Trump.