Nikki Haley campaigned in Iowa wearing a sweater by a pro-Palestinian celebrity designer who called Hamas’ terror attack “revenge” on Israel for being “locked up in a huge prison.”
The Republican presidential candidate and former United Nations ambassador donned the $235 “She Who Dares Wins” Alice Temperley jersey for the first time during an on-camera interview in Cedar Rapids with KCRG.
The candidate, who is vying for second place in the caucus behind Donald Trump, also wore the green design on Saturday as she told her supporters to bundle up to vote in sub-zero temperatures.
Temperley, a favorite of Kate Middleton and Hollywood stars, sparked outrage in October when she expressed support for a ceasefire in Gaza in a now-edited Instagram post.
The British designer even went so far as to suggest that Hamas terrorists rightly wanted ‘revenge’ on Israel.
In the post, Temperley said that “the West helped create Hamas during decades of torment and destruction in Gaza.”
Nikki Haley wore a sweater by pro-Palestine designer Alice Temperley with the phrase “She Who Dares Wins” on the front during a campaign stop in Cedar Falls, Iowa, on Saturday
Alice Temperley (left) posted a message on her Instagram in the midst of the Israeli-Palestinian war suggesting that Hamas terrorists were justified in their deadly attack because they wanted “revenge” on the Jewish state. Pictured right: The website image of the Temperley London jumper urging buyers to ‘wear with pride this International Women’s Day’
Haley has remained staunch in her support of Israel during the campaign, rejecting all calls for a ceasefire and telling Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu to “finish” Hamas.
But her choice of designer has raised eyebrows following her social media response to the October 7 attacks that killed thousands of Israeli civilians.
In the post, Temperley continued: “If you blow up children and their families (sic) and lock them up in a huge prison with constant kidnappings and bombings – of course they are going to seek revenge and get very angry (as I would be). in their position)
‘No freedom, no rights and now genocide that threatens 2.2 million people who are denied aid, food and water.
The designer’s post received a wave of criticism, with one follower asking: ‘Are you seriously suggesting that Hamas was somehow justified in brutally raping, murdering and kidnapping women and small children two weeks ago? Shame on you indeed.”
In response to one of her critics, she wrote: “If someone came and cut your child into pieces, you would want revenge – that’s all I’m saying… I understand how the seventy years have caused this.”
Temperley later edited her original Instagram post to condemn all acts of violence.
She wrote that she was “heartbroken for the innocent lives lost on both sides of yet another tragic, unimaginable war.”
The designer added that she “empathized with both sides” and “didn’t agree with acts of violence.”
Comments on the edited post have been disabled.
Temperly’s website notes that the designer is “paying tribute to the women in our lives” with the sweater’s banner and urges those who purchase the sweater to “wear it with pride this International Women’s Day.”
Notably, Haley is the only woman running in the 2024 Republican presidential primary — and she’s alternated with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in the race for second place behind former President Donald Trump.
A voter who attended a DeSantis campaign stop in West Des Moines, Iowa, told DailyMail.com on Saturday that one reason she is not supporting the former South Carolina governor is because she is indulging in identity politics.
“She’s doing identity politics, like ‘I’m a girl,’ or, you know, being a daughter of immigrants and things like that,” says Amy Meyer, 51, of Urbandale, Iowa.
“It’s like what you accomplish and do is much more important than, you know, immutable characteristics,” she added of why she doesn’t feel Haley is an option in Monday’s caucus.
“It’s the wrong message for me.”
She took to Instagram on Saturday to share her thoughts on the conflict between Israel and Hamas
In response to one of her critics, she wrote: “If someone came and cut your child into pieces, you would want revenge – that’s all I’m saying… I understand how the seventy years have caused this.”
Amy Meyer, 51, is a data analyst from Urbandale, Iowa, supporting Florida Governor Ron DeSantis during Monday’s caucus. She told DailyMail.com during a campaign stop in West Des Moines on Saturday that she does not support Haley because of her identity politics. “She’s doing identity politics, like ‘I’m a girl,’ or, you know, being a daughter of immigrants and things like that… It’s the wrong message to me,” Meyer said
DeSantis’ campaign has noted that Haley has previously said that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton inspired her to run for office in an offensive line, suggesting his competitor is too left-wing.
Haley has said on several occasions over the years that a major reason Clinton entered public service was because of her statements about the importance of women in politics. But that comment is usually followed by criticism of the failed 2016 Democratic presidential candidate.
In addition to being designed by someone who has expressed pro-Palestinian sentiments amid the war between Israel and Hamas terrorists operating out of Gaza, Haley’s jersey also has a Chinese manufacturer.
A customer service representative at Temperley London noticed when he arrived upstairs that the sweater was “produced in a factory that is family-owned and our long-standing partner in China.”
Haley and DeSantis have publicly shared words criticizing each other for not being tough enough on China or for not having ties to the Communist Party in their roles as leaders of their respective states.
Haley spoke Saturday in Cedar Falls, Iowa, marking her seventh straight in-person event where she did not take questions from the audience. During Friday’s telerallies — held to replace her canceled events due to the ongoing snowstorm in Iowa — Haley opened the floor to questions.
DeSantis has canceled minimal events, though his schedule has been pushed back a number of times due to inclement weather. The Florida governor has also opened the floor to questions from audience members during his campaign stops, while also holding press conferences following his public remarks.
Temperley is a favorite designer of Princess of Wales Kate Middleton (pictured in April 2016)
