Nikki Haley Blasted On SNL About Slavery Omission

Actress Ayo Edebiri asked the former South Carolina Governor if Slavery was a cause of the Civil War.

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CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: Republican presidential hopeful and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a rally on January 28, 2024 in Conway, South Carolina. After her defeat to Trump in New Hampshire, Haley pledged to continue on to her home state of South Carolina, insisting she still has a path to the nomination.
CONWAY, SOUTH CAROLINA - JANUARY 28: Republican presidential hopeful and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a rally on January 28, 2024 in Conway, South Carolina. After her defeat to Trump in New Hampshire, Haley pledged to continue on to her home state of South Carolina, insisting she still has a path to the nomination.
Photo: Allison Joyce/ (Getty Images)

After spending the last week defending her comments on The Breakfast Club, Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley decided to try her luck on Saturday Night Live.

Haley made a surprise appearance during the Cold Open sketch — taking aim at former President Donald Trump. “Why won’t you debate Nikki Haley,” a grinning Haley asked the actor portraying Trump in the Town Hall sketch.

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The former South Carolina Governor also made a quip about Trump’s mental acuity, suggesting he take a “mental competency test.” She also made digs about his many, many legal problems.

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But the biggest diss of the sketch wasn’t about Trump.

CNN Town Hall South Carolina Cold Open - SNL

Golden Globe award winner Ayo Edebiri questioned Haley about previous comments she made about the Civil War — in which she excluded any mention of slavery as a cause for the war.

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“What would you say was the main cause of the Civil War, and do you think it starts with an S and ends with a Lavery,” asked Edebiri.

Haley responded with an awkward smile plastered across her face, saying, “Yep, I probably should have said that the first time.”

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Commenters were quick to note that Haley still never said the words slavery. After facing weeks of backlash for not putting slavery and the Civil War into the same sentence, one would think she would at least remember to do it in her SNL appearance. Although, this was definitely a better answer than the time she randomly mentioned her childhood Black friends.

It also might have been wise to avoid SNL altogether — seeing as it’s a show dedicated to making fun of politicians, and she’s been on a roll with the gaffes lately. But we’re not Haley’s communications team.