DES MOINES, Iowa — Nikki Haley indirectly criticized former President Donald Trump for his pandemic-era spending while reiterating her call for public official competency tests after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell‘s (R-KY) health scare.

“Our Republicans did that to us too,” the former U.N. ambassador said Friday during the Iowa Republican Party’s Lincoln Day Dinner in Des Moines of the country’s record $33 trillion in debt.

THREE THINGS WE LEARNED IN JACK SMITH’S SUPERSEDING TRUMP INDICTMENT

Haley also scrutinized congressional Republicans’ reintroduction of earmarks before turning her attention to Vice President Kamala Harris‘s response to the root causes of illegal immigration and yearslong legislative gridlock.

“That’s why we have to have term limits in D.C. once and for all,” the former South Carolina governor said. “And if this week didn’t prove it to you,” we additionally need competency tests for politicians older than 75 years of age.

“That’s not being disrespectful; these are people making decisions on our national security,” she added before making a joke about Biden finally acknowledging his illegitimate granddaughter earlier Friday.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

The Lincoln Day Dinner is a critical opportunity for 2024 Republican primary presidential candidates to differentiate themselves from a crowded field before next January’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

Trump has an average of 52% support, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has 18%, biotechnology entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and former Vice President Mike Pence have 5%, Haley has 4%, and Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) has 3%, according to RealClearPolitics.

Original Location: Lincoln Day Dinner: Nikki Haley re-ups call for competency tests after McConnell freeze

Washington Examiner Videos