Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley's presidential campaign is launching a powerful three-minute television ad ahead of the New Hampshire primary, addressing the controversial handling of the U.S. relationship with North Korea and the tragic case of Otto Warmbier. The ad features the heartfelt testimony of Cindy Warmbier, Otto's mother.
In 2016, Otto Warmbier, an American college student, was taken hostage by North Korea. After a long and difficult negotiation, he was eventually released but tragically fell into a vegetative state and passed away shortly after.
The ad prominently showcases Cindy Warmbier's speech, which she delivered during the launch of Nikki Haley's campaign in February 2023.
"When we desperately sought help from the Obama administration, we were told to remain silent and patient," Warmbier expresses in the ad. "Nikki, on the other hand, encouraged us to be courageous despite our fear. She gave us hope and the strength to persevere."
Warmbier's mother goes on to commend Haley, who served as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration when negotiations for Otto's release were underway. She expresses deep gratitude for Haley's unwavering support throughout the negotiation process.
"I will tell you about her strength, her compassion, and her belief that every human being is worth fighting for," a spokesperson says in the ad. "I will tell you that Nikki didn't help me because it was her job. She did it as a mom, a friend, and a fighter who made my fight her own."
Haley's presidential campaign is featuring the story of a grieving mother to highlight the contrast between Trump's approach to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
"Donald Trump played an important role in bringing Otto's body home and holding North Korea accountable, but he changed his stance when he "fell in love" with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un," Haley's presidential campaign said in a statement.
In 2019, Trump said he didn't blame Kim for Otto Warmbier's death, a comment that sparked outrage.
"Some really bad things happened to Otto, some really, really bad things. But [Kim] tells me that he didn't know about it, and I will take him at his word."
The release of the ad represents another attack on Trump as Haley strives to close the gap for New Hampshire's primary and directly confronts Trump in what she calls a "two-person race."
