Nikki Haley rips critics of dress at wedding: ‘Grow up’

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley fired back Friday at detractors who implied she wore an off-white dress to upstage her own daughter at a family wedding.

“This is why people don’t trust the media. Liberal ‘journalists’ spend their time harassing conservatives about outfit choices,” the former South Carolina governor said on Twitter, sharing a screenshot of an emailed comment request from a Newsweek reporter.

“Grow up, @Newsweek. P.S. The dress was gold,” Haley added.

The fierce response from the former ambassador to the United Nations comes nearly a week after the 51-year-old posed in the gown for a photo alongside husband Michael, son Nalin, daughter Rena and new son-in-law Josh Jackson. 

“We had the sweetest weekend celebrating Rena and Josh,” Haley tweeted. “Thankful for our sweet family and friends who joined us in supporting and celebrating them. Rena and Josh, we could not be more proud of both of you!”

Critics were taken aback at Haley’s sartorial choice, with one Twitter user exclaiming, “Did the mother of the bride wear WHITE.”

Still others praised Haley.

“Best wishes to the beautiful couple! And best mother of the bride dress I’ve seen,” said Heather Nauert, a former Fox News anchor and State Department spokeswoman who was briefly considered to succeed Haley as UN ambassador but withdrew following reports she had hired a nanny without a working visa.

Haley in February announced her insurgent campaign to challenge former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination.

The 51-year-old floated the idea of requiring politicians over the age of 75 to take “mandatory mental competency tests” during her campaign launch, implying President Biden and her 76-year-old former boss were two of many “faded names of the past” who should step aside for a new generation of candidates.

Haley remains in a small GOP primary field that includes former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who has never held public office.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence have yet to announce their widely expected presidential runs.

Fellow South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott also has yet to formally announce his campaign, though he launched a presidential exploratory committee this month.

Haley appointed Scott to the Senate in 2012 to replace retiring fellow Republican Jim DeMint.

More South Carolinians support Haley for the GOP nomination than Scott, according to a recent Winthrop University poll.

The survey found just 47% of state residents approve of Scott’s work as the state’s junior senator, while 53% approve of Haley, who spent six years in the governor’s mansion.