Fact check: Trump ad claims Haley opposed border wall, travel ban
Former President Donald Trump is airing an ad in New Hampshire that casts him as a strong defender of U.S. borders while portraying former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley as weak.
Posted — UpdatedOminous music plays as the 30-second ad shows footage of large groups of migrants heading to the border, and families in mourning as a narrator mentions fentanyl deaths.
"Yet Haley and Biden oppose Trump’s border wall," the narrator said. "Confirmed warnings of terrorists sneaking in through our southern border. Yet Haley joined Biden in opposing Trump’s visitor ban from terrorist nations.
"Haley’s weakness puts us in grave danger. Trump’s strength protects us."
Text on the screen also said: "Haley opposed Trump’s border wall" and "Haley opposed Trump’s travel ban."
The claims about Haley’s positions are wrong. Haley said more was needed to secure the border, but she didn’t oppose Trump’s border wall. She opposed a Muslim travel ban, but supported other iterations of Trump’s travel bans.
Haley supported a border wall among other security measures
Haley said that securing the border wasn’t just about building a wall.
"Because a wall is not going to do it," she said Sept. 2, 2015. "You’ve got to have commitment of ground troops, equipment, money, all of that to bring it together. Then you’re being serious about tackling illegal immigration."
Haley supported a ban that did not single out people for their religion
The Trump ad cites those comments, ignoring that she supported the travel bans he issued when she was part of his administration. The U.S. Senate approved Haley’s confirmation as U.N. ambassador Jan. 24, 2017.
PolitiFact didn’t find any public comments from Haley about the executive order at the time.
"It’s not a Muslim ban. I will never support a Muslim ban. I don’t think we should ever ban anyone based on their religion," she said.
"This is about safety. This is about terrorism," Haley said.
PolitiFact ruling
A Trump ad claimed that Haley "opposed Trump’s border wall" and "Trump’s travel ban."
Haley did not oppose Trump’s border wall. In 2015, she said border security required more than a border wall and that technology, infrastructure and funding were also needed. On the 2024 campaign trail, Haley has said she wants to finish building a border wall.
Haley supported three versions of Trump’s travel bans, saying they were focused on safety, not religion. She opposed a religion-based ban. As a presidential candidate, Haley has said she supports banning entry to people from countries with terrorist activities.
We rate Trump’s claims False.
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