Sunny Hostin accuses DeSantis and Haley of ‘intellectual dishonesty’ in GOP primary bid

The View co-host Sunny Hostin said Republican presidential candidates Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley are committing “intellectual dishonesty” among Republican voters.

Hostin made the statement during a segment of the show on Wednesday that featured former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, another 2024 GOP presidential candidate, as a guest. During his appearance on The View, Christie said DeSantis and Haley are not running against former President Donald Trump but are doing “the best they can to come in second.” Christie predicted they are doing this so as not to offend Trump supporters while looking ahead to the 2028 presidential election.

NIKKI HALEY KEEPS ONE EYE ON IOWA AS SHE SEEKS TO WIN NEW HAMPSHIRE PRIMARY

“Well, it’s intellectual dishonesty, isn’t it?” Hostin said.

Christie agreed with Hostin’s assessment and described such a move as “the most cynical type of politics.”

The former New Jersey governor’s statement on his opponents in the Republican primary race comes as DeSantis and Haley are the only candidates who will appear at the next presidential debate, which will be held on Jan. 10. Trump also qualified, but as with the previous debates, he will not attend and will focus his time elsewhere.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Trump is still leading the primary race in the Republican Party, outpacing his fellow opponents. President Joe Biden announced he would seek reelection last year, meaning the 2024 presidential election could be a rematch between him and Trump.

At the end of last month, a poll revealed that Biden’s approval rating took a beating over 2023, going from 46% in January to 40% in November. Trump, who ran for reelection in 2020 and lost to Biden, had an approval rating of 44% around the same time in his term.