Nalin Haley Sparks Debate Over Immigration and Foreign Aid in Candid Interview

Nalin Haley, the 24-year-old son of former U.N. Ambassador and presidential candidate Nikki Haley, has stirred political discussion after calling for a pause on foreign aid and legal immigration to the United States.

In a recent interview with UnHerd, Haley voiced concern about the challenges facing young Americans in today’s economy. He said many recent graduates, including his own friends, are struggling to find stable jobs due to what he believes is excessive competition in the workforce.

“My friend group from high school all graduated, great degrees from great schools. It’s been a year and a half, and not one of them has a job,” he said. “I’m angry about that because I’m having to try and help my friends get jobs when their parents got jobs immediately — not just after college, but even out of high school.”

Haley also expressed frustration over rising housing costs, saying homeownership feels increasingly out of reach for his generation. “My parents bought their first house for $90,000,” he said. “That same house is probably worth $400,000 now. How can we compete?”

A Controversial Exchange

During the conversation, Haley criticized journalist Mehdi Hasan, claiming that individuals who “dislike America” should leave the country. When asked to clarify his remarks, he emphasized that he meant it literally.

“If you hate America, you shouldn’t be in America,” Haley said. “Everyone wants to make it so complicated with rules and regulations. It’s simple — if you don’t like it, get out.”

The comments have drawn mixed reactions online, with some conservatives praising his bluntness and others calling the statement too extreme.

Criticism of Republican Messaging

Haley also took aim at entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, rejecting his call for Republicans to move away from identity politics after the GOP’s disappointing results in recent state elections in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. Haley dismissed Ramaswamy’s approach as “cringeworthy.”

Instead, he argued that Republicans should focus on addressing domestic challenges such as unemployment, student debt, and housing affordability before sending financial aid overseas.

“We need to fix what’s broken here before helping the rest of the world,” Haley said.

Growing Political Voice

Though still young, Nalin Haley has quickly gained attention within conservative circles for his outspoken support of the MAGA movement and his willingness to challenge figures from both major political parties. His remarks highlight an emerging generational divide among conservatives over how to handle immigration, foreign aid, and the economy.