In a recent post on his Truth Social account, former President Donald Trump took aim at Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and potential rival in the 2024 Republican nominating contest. Using her birth name, Trump repeatedly referred to Haley, the daughter of Indian immigrants, as "Nimbra," and questioned her abilities.

The attack comes just days before the New Hampshire primary, where Haley is seeking to establish herself as the primary alternative to Trump in the competition. Trump's post represents an escalation of recent attacks, where he has referenced Haley's given first name and falsely claimed that she is ineligible for the presidency due to her parents' immigration status at the time of her birth.

These attacks echo Trump's "birther" rhetoric against former President Barack Obama, where he propagated the debunked conspiracy theory that Obama was not a natural-born U.S. citizen. Trump's efforts to question Obama's legitimacy played a significant role in his rise among culturally conservative Republicans and his eventual election in 2016.

Haley has dismissed Trump's attacks as evidence that she poses a serious threat to his bid for a third consecutive nomination. Speaking to reporters in New Hampshire, Haley described Trump's actions as a response to feeling threatened and insecure. She reaffirmed her confidence, stating that she knows she is a contender.

Trump's campaign has not yet responded to inquiries about his comments. Since his resounding victory in the Iowa caucuses, where he led by 30 points, Haley has made a concerted effort to position herself as Trump's primary competition. Trump, on the other hand, oscillates between declaring the nominating fight over and targeting Haley as if they are embroiled in a close contest.

Notably, Trump still criticizes Ron DeSantis, his other remaining rival, but the attacks on DeSantis do not involve race or ethnicity. Pastor Darrell Scott, a Black man who has led a diversity coalition for Trump in the past, defended the former president's attacks on Haley as typical election season tactics, aimed at garnering votes rather than demeaning or degrading her.

Tara Setmayer, senior adviser to the Lincoln Project group opposing Trump from within the conservative movement, acknowledged that Trump's rhetoric may appeal to Republican primary voters but deemed it morally questionable. Setmayer, a multiracial conservative independent, criticized the Republican Party for enabling such behavior.

Trump's history of using race, ethnicity, and immigrant heritage as weapons is well-documented. Notably, he consistently referred to Barack Obama as "Barack Hussein Obama," emphasizing his middle name. Trump also perpetuated the false claim that Obama was not born in the United States, only admitting it was untrue during the 2016 general election.

This latest attack on Nikki Haley's birth name shows Trump's continued reliance on racially charged rhetoric, specifically targeting people of color, even within his own party. As the primary contest heats up, it remains to be seen how these attacks will impact Trump's standing and Haley's campaign.