Nikki Haley's call to Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump to tamp down on his anti-immigrant rhetoric won praise from Republicans and Democrats alike, but the real estate mogul was not amused.
Supporters of Trump were angered that Haley called him out and many took to Twitter and mocked her Indian heritage, making fun of her Indian given name.
"Some people think that you have to be the loudest voice in the room to make a difference," South Carolina's Indian-American governor said in the Republican Party's response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday night.
"That is just not true. Often, the best thing we can do is turn down the volume," she said without naming Trump, who has rattled the Republican establishment with his rhetoric particularly his call to temporarily bar all Muslims from entering the US.
Haley acknowledged on Wednesday morning that she was referring to Trump when she warned Americans not to follow the angriest voices in politics.
"Mr. Trump has definitely contributed to what I think is just irresponsible talk," the daughter of Sikh immigrants from India told NBC.
The remarks drew praise from many Republicans and Democrats and even the White House for "willing to do something that a lot of other leading Republicans have been unwilling to do, which is to actually articulate a commitment to some core American values."
"Look, that doesn't mean that we agree with Governor Haley on everything; we surely don't," Obama's press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
"But her willingness to stand up for some important principles was noted, and it took courage. And for that, she deserves credit," he said.
White House chief of staff Denis McDonough also expressed approval for Haley. "I have a lot of admiration for the governor," McDonough said Wednesday describing parts of her speech as "admirable."
Haley's speech also renewed speculation that she would be a strong pick as a vice-presidential candidate.
Haley told NBC that she hadn't thought about any of the vice-presidential rumours, but added: "If a candidate wanted to sit down and talk, I would sit down and talk. That's a big decision."
Later she told CNN that she considered Trump a friend and urged the billionaire not to take her comments personally and said that she also had concerns about some of his rivals.
But Trump would have none of it. "She's very weak on illegal immigration," Trump told Fox News making it clear that Haley was unlikely to be his running mate for the Nov 8 presidential election.
"Well, considering I'm leading in the polls by a lot, I wouldn't say she's off to a good start" to be his vice presidential candidate, Trump said. "Whoever I pick is also going to be very strong on illegal immigration."
He also suggested that Haley was a hypocrite saying "Over the years, she's asked me for a hell of a lot of money in campaign contributions."
The reviews were more mixed among other Republican presidential candidates. Former Florida governor Jeb Bush described her speech as "remarkable" for talking about a "broader hopeful, optimistic Republican message."
Senator Marco Rubio of Florida also said he was "impressed" with Haley. But former HP chief executive Carly Fiorina argued that Americans have a right to be angry about issues such as illegal immigration.
Ann Coulter, the conservative commentator, said that Trump should deport Haley even though she was born in the US.
Takes Swipe At Trump's Rhetoric
Citing her own success story as a daughter of Indian American immigrants, South Carolina's Republican governor Nikki Haley took a swipe at her own party's presidential frontrunner Donald Trump for his anti-immigrant rhetoric.
"No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country," she said giving the Republican response to President Barack Obama's State of the Union address on Tuesday night from the governor's residence in Columbia, South Carolina.
"During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices... We must resist that temptation," Haley said without naming Trump, as she warned against rhetoric that would threaten "the dream that is America".
Trump, who has been leading the polls for months, has vowed to deport an estimated 11 million immigrants, build a wall on the border with Mexico and after the Paris and St. Bernardino terror attacks gave a call to temporarily ban the entry of all Muslims into the US.
"The foundation that has made America that last, best hope on Earth hasn't gone anywhere. It still exists. It is up to us to return to it," Haley said.
"For me, that starts right where it always has: I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants who reminded my brothers, my sister and me every day how blessed we were to live in this country."
"Growing up in the rural south, my family didn't look like our neighbours, and we didn't have much," she said.
"There were times that were tough, but we had each other, and we had the opportunity to do anything, to be anything, as long as we were willing to work for it."
"My story is really not much different from millions of other Americans," Haley said.
"Immigrants have been coming to our shores for generations to live the dream that is America. They wanted better for their children than for themselves."
"That remains the dream of all of us, and in this country we have seen time and again that that dream is achievable."
"At the same time, that does not mean we just flat out open our borders. We can't do that. We cannot continue to allow immigrants to come here illegally," she said.
"And in this age of terrorism, we must not let in refugees whose intentions cannot be determined," Haley said, giving a call for fixing "our broken immigration system".
"That means stopping illegal immigration. And it means welcoming properly vetted legal immigrants, regardless of their race or religion," Haley said. "Just like we have for centuries."
While the Republican National Committee and many 2016 presidential contenders praised Haley's response, some conservatives were critical of her apparent references to Trump.
In a series of tweets, radio host Laura Ingraham blasted the party and Haley for the rebuttal, which she said was more of a rebuttal to Donald Trump than Obama.
"Too bad @NikkiHaley missed her oppty to stand w/ working ppl who want borders enforced, American workers put first, govt shrunk," Ingraham wrote.
"The country is lit up w/ a populist fever & the GOP responds by digging in, criticizing the GOP (Republican) candidates dominating polls?! NOT SMART."'
Conservative commentator and author Ann Coulter went even farther, writing: "Trump should deport Nikki Haley."
"To the glee of our corrupt media, Nikki Haley is attacking our own frontrunner. The GOP Establishment is garbage," tweeted Breitbart columnist John Nolte.
