Nikki Haley’s FSU-Clemson Tweet Mocked for Apparent Political Insinuations: ‘Is Florida State Your Code Word For Trump?’

Sarah RumpfNov 21st, 2020, 8:51 pm
 

Alex Wong / Getty Images

Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley’s South Carolina roots run deep, and there are few things we Southerners enjoy as much as college football rivalries, but one of Haley’s tweets Saturday got attention not for the gridiron trash talk, but the political implications many read into her words.

The Florida State University Seminoles and Clemson University Tigers were supposed to meet up in Tallahassee Saturday, but the game was postponed after a Clemson player tested positive for Covid-19. According to the Tallahassee Democrat, the player was reportedly practicing with his team earlier in the week while symptomatic, raising concerns that he had possibly passed the virus on to his teammates.

The game may be able to be played in December, depending on Clemson’s postseason schedule. The Tigers are currently ranked 4th in the AP poll with a 7-1 record so far this year (6-1 in the ACC). Unranked FSU, on the other hand, is almost certainly not going to have a postseason, with their 2-6 record, 1-6 in the ACC.

That difference in the teams’ fortunes is likely what initially inspired Haley’s tweet. “Florida State, whether you lose today or a few days from now won’t matter,” tweeted Haley. “Get it over with already. Stop stalling.”

Several Twitter users criticized Haley’s tweet as tone-deaf considering the pandemic.

Many others seized on the parallels with Haley’s former boss, President Donald Trump, who refuses to concede the race to President-elect Joe Biden two weeks after all major media outlets called the race for Biden and Trump’s legal challenges continue to fumble.

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Sarah Rumpf - Contributing Editor

Sarah Rumpf joined Mediaite in 2020 and is a Contributing Editor focusing on politics, law, and the media. A native Floridian, Sarah attended the University of Florida, graduating with a double major in Political Science and German, and earned her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the UF College of Law. Sarah's writing has been featured at National Review, The Daily Beast, Reason, Law&Crime, Independent Journal Review, Texas Monthly, The Capitolist, Breitbart Texas, Townhall, RedState, The Orlando Sentinel, and the Austin-American Statesman, and her political commentary has led to appearances on television, radio, and podcast programs across the globe. Follow Sarah on Threads, Twitter, and Bluesky.