In a recent CNN town hall event in New Hampshire, former South Carolina governor and Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley made it clear that she would not grant a pre-emptive pardon to former President Donald Trump for any crimes committed during his presidency. Haley emphasized that no one was above the law, and legal processes should be allowed to unfold.

Haley stated, "I think everything needs to play out. And I honestly think President Trump would want that to happen. If he wants to defend himself and prove that he has been treated... the wrong way, or whether it's political, I think he would want to fight for that. You only want to talk about a pardon after someone has been convicted."

Trump, facing a staggering 91 criminal charges, including election subversion, retention of classified information, and hush-money payments, has been at the center of legal battles and civil suits. Additionally, there have been attempts to keep him off the ballot in several states. Despite these legal challenges, Trump continues to maintain a significant lead over Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the polls.

While Trump's dominance in the race remains, Haley, currently trailing by 17 points in a recent Suffolk University poll, is positioning herself as his closest competitor in New Hampshire. With DeSantis's campaign struggling, Haley aims to present the GOP primary as a two-person race.

The cancellation of two New Hampshire debates came after Haley announced her refusal to participate. Trump, on the other hand, has consistently refused to engage in debates and has instead focused on gathering endorsements and pressuring his rivals to withdraw from the race.

In a social media rant on Thursday, Trump claimed "complete and total immunity" from prosecution for actions conducted during his term in office. This claim has been met with skepticism from historians and legal observers. When asked about Trump's immunity claim, Haley responded, "No. I mean, it should be common sense, right? Obviously, if a president is doing something and... whether it's terrorist threats or something like that, and people die, that's one thing. But do you get just total freedom to do whatever you want? No."

As for the question of pardoning Trump, Haley stated that she would not follow in Gerald Ford's footsteps by issuing a pre-emptive pardon like the treatment Richard Nixon received after the Watergate scandal. However, she expressed her willingness to consider pardoning Trump after any conviction, asserting that an elderly former president sitting in jail would further divide the country. Haley believes that a pardon for Trump would contribute to healing the nation.

Amidst her campaign efforts, Haley's recent remarks on issues dividing the country have also sparked controversy. When confronted about her statement that the U.S. is not a racist country, despite its foundation of slavery and the displacement of Indigenous Americans, Haley defended her viewpoint. She pointed out that growing up as a minority in a small rural town, her parents never spoke of living in a racist country. Haley concluded that labeling the U.S. as racist immediately diminishes the prospects of brown and Black children, denying them a chance to succeed.

Haley also highlighted her accomplishments as the first female minority governor in history and her tenure as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She commended the progress made over time in addressing inequality and discrimination, emphasizing that the intent of the Declaration of Independence was for everyone to be created equal.

As the race for the Republican nomination heats up, Haley's stance on pardoning Trump and her views on racial issues continue to generate headlines. But ultimately, it remains to be seen whether her positions will resonate with voters in the coming primaries and caucuses.