'It's past time for the GOP to end this political primary charade,' one GOP lawmaker said
Top Republicans showered with boos from Trump victory crowd, prompting jokes from former president
After being recognized by Trump during his South Carolina victory speech, Sen. Lindsey Graham and state GOP chair Drew McKissick were showered with boos that the former president couldnt even quell.
Former President Trump's victory in the South Carolina Republican primary Saturday night quickly sparked a response from conservatives on social media, many of whom said they believe GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley should step aside and drop out of the race.
The primary was called for the former president and 2024 GOP frontrunner just moments after polls closed Saturday night, with Trump saying he looks forward to delivering his signature line to President Biden: "Joe, you’re fired."
"Congratulations to President Trump on another DOMINANT primary election victory in SC," Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds wrote in a post on X. "Nikki Haley has lost BIG in every primary & she’s now lost her home state. It’s clear Republicans want President Trump to be our nominee & Nikki Haley has no pathway to victory."
Kansas GOP Sen. Roger Marshall also weighed in on Trump's victory, writing on X, "Congratulations to President Trump for his landslide victory in South Carolina. It's past time for the GOP to end this political primary charade and unite behind the clear nominee, Donald J. Trump."
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah said the "(proverbial) lady is now (metaphorically) singing. Trump won. It’s over. Haley should drop out now."
Congratulations to President Trump on another DOMINANT primary election victory in SC.
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) February 25, 2024
Nikki Haley has lost BIG in every primary & she’s now lost her home state.
It’s clear Republicans want President Trump to be our nominee & Nikki Haley has no pathway to victory. https://t.co/kbKtgYUXOc
Radio host and former presidential candidate Larry Elder said that Haley "loses and declares victory."
Haley, however, has said she is staying in the race.
"I’m a woman of my word. I’m not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden," she told supporters.
"We’re headed to Michigan tomorrow. And we’re headed to the Super Tuesday states throughout all of next week," she said.
Commentator Jesse Kelly called on Trump to take a forward-looking approach as he took another step closer to becoming the nominee.
"Time for Team Trump to tighten up messaging and stop talking about Nikki Haley. And Ron DeSantis. Take the W and focus on Biden. Absolutely zero benefit comes from blasting the ones you’ve beaten," he said.
Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump. (Getty Images)
When asked by Fox News Digital whether he wanted Nikki Haley to drop out of the race, Trump told Fox News Digital that he’s "really not thinking about that… I'm not thinking about it."
"I’m really thinking about we have to beat Joe Biden," he told Fox News Digital. "I don’t know if she’s in the race at all, because, you know, I have set records in every single state. I’m not sure that she’s really in the race."
Fox News' Emily Robertson, Aubrie Spady and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
Kyle Morris covers politics for Fox News. Story tips can be sent via email and on X: @RealKyleMorris.
