Nikki Haley Calls Vivek Ramaswamy 'Scum' After He Says Her Daughter Uses TikTok

Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy clashed during the third Republican presidential primary debate held on Wednesday night, October 8. The heated exchange centered around Vivek's use of TikTok and his criticism of Haley's foreign policy record.

Vivek Ramaswamy, a businessman and author, has been vocal about his opposition to TikTok, a social media app owned by Chinese company ByteDance. During the debate, Ramaswamy questioned Haley's decision not to call for a ban on TikTok while her own daughter uses the app.

"In the last debate, [Haley] made fun of me for actually joining TikTok while her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time. So you might want to take care of your family first," Vivek said.

Haley, a former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, took offense to Ramaswamy's remarks, accusing him of bringing her daughter into the debate.

"Leave my daughter out of your mouth," Haley said, visibly enraged.

She then went on to call Ramaswamy "scum," prompting cheers from the audience.

The exchange escalated further when Ramaswamy compared Haley's foreign policy views to those of former Republican Vice President Dick Cheney.

"Do you want a leader from a different generation, who's going to put this country first?" Ramaswamy asked. "Or do you want Dick Cheney in three-inch heels?"

Haley, known for her sharp tongue and quick wit, responded with a quip of her own.

"I wear 'five-inch heels,'" Haley said, emphasizing the word "five." "And I don't wear them unless you can run in them."

She then added, "I wear heels, they're not for a fashion statement, they're for ammunition."