Indian-American Republican leader Nikki Haley, who finished third in the Iowa caucuses, responded to accusations that the Republican Party is "anti-immigrant" by stating that the US has never been a "racist country." She emphasized her own journey as a brown girl growing up in South Carolina, becoming the first female minority governor, and serving as the UN ambassador. Haley rejected the notion that the Republican Party is racist, asserting the goal of making each day better than the last. She highlighted her passion for creating a future where children aren't disadvantaged based on race or gender.