Democratic strategist David Axelrod denounced former President Trump’s New Hampshire victory speech Wednesday, calling it “improvisational” and saying the former president acted like a “jackass.”
Trump’s rambling victory monologue after a strong performance in the Granite State included repeated jabs at his chief rival, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, including mocking her own concession speech earlier in the evening and making fun of her dress.
The former president also encouraged Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who was on the stage, to openly declare his love for Trump, “humiliating” himself, Axelrod said.
The strategist said in a CNN interview Wednesday that the Trump campaign isn’t able to contain its candidate.
“I guarantee you that they did not say, ‘Go on out there and act like a jackass and go after Nikki Haley in really personal and sexist ways, humiliate Tim Scott,’” Axelrod said. “That was the improvisational Trump.”
“The challenge for his campaign team is, they can do all the blocking and tackling well, and they are. But they can’t control him,” he continued. “That was a really horrible exhibition last night. And it only probably made Haley more determined to try and stay.”
2024 Election Coverage
Trump won about 54 percent of the vote in New Hampshire on Tuesday, a strong performance that met expectations of an 11-point victory over Haley, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Haley’s campaign also hit Trump for the speech earlier Wednesday, calling it a “temper tantrum.”
“Last night, Donald Trump reminded voters that they have a choice between two diametrically opposed visions: Make America Unhinged Again or Make America Normal Again,” Haley spokesperson Nachama Soloveichik said.
In her own concession speech Tuesday, the GOP hopeful committed to staying in the race until the South Carolina primary at the end of February.
“New Hampshire is first in the nation. It is not the last in the nation,” said Haley, the former governor of the Palmetto State. “This race is far from over. There are dozens of states left to go.”