U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley told Fox News on Thursday night that The New York Times was given the correct information before they ran their deceptive report, suggesting that the left-wing newspaper intentionally ran the report to cause political damage.
“The New York Times, a lot of egg on their face, they said that you had authorized the purchase of $50,000 drapes and then they had to post a big retraction,” host Martha MacCallum said, referring to the September 13 hit piece. “What do you say to them about that?”
“You know, unfortunately, if you’re in public service, this is the life we live every day,” Haley responded. “It’s just a matter of this one got through. You know, we’re stopping stories every day that — that aren’t truthful or aren’t — don’t have the facts.”
“And so, this one — I hadn’t even taken the job when these curtains were picked out,” Haley continued. “And so, the idea that this came out, we told the reporters that these were the facts. They knew the facts and they released the story anyway. And I think it goes to show—”
“You talked to The New York Times and said this isn’t the case and they printed it anyway?” MacCallum asked.
“They printed it anyway and it was down in the story in like the seventh paragraph, down at the bottom,” Haley responded.
“And then they had to post a retraction,” MacCallum replied, noting the Times’ correction the next day. “So that’s twice.”
“Yes, but we shouldn’t — you know, all last weekend, every day wherever I went, people were asking me about my curtains,” Haley answered. “The damage is done once the story is out. I appreciate the retraction but that story follows you everywhere you go. But that is — that’s the tough part about public life now.”