Live Updates: Trump speaks after defeating Nikki Haley in South Carolina primary

On Friday evening, during the Reagan Dinner, Bishop Joseph Strickland, the former bishop of Tyler, Texas addressed the topic Republican elected officials have hoped to avoid: the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that frozen embryos could be considered children under state law, saying that conservatives needed to guide Republicans politicians to support the “sanctity of life.”

“This decision by Alabama’s court was correct according to our Catholic faith,” he said addressing the conservative faithful and donors after an auction that included selling off portaits of Donald Trump and Jesus Christ and before a speech by failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.

Bishop Strickland, whom Pope Francis relieved last year from his position, called upon conservative activists to push Republican elected officials to stand steadfast behind the Alabama court ruling.

“We must help them understand the intricacies of what science has done, in playing God and having children, embryos, embryonic children frozen and too easily disposed,” he said.

Earlier this week, the Alabama Supreme Court made the decision as part of a wrongful death lawsuit that three couples brought after they had frozen embryos destroyed in an accident at a clinic.

Earlier this week, Ms Haley spoke at Clemson University about her plans to remain in the presidential race.

“South Carolina will vote on Saturday,” she told audience members. “But on Sunday, I’ll still be running for president. I’m not going anywhere. I’m campaigning every day until the last person votes.”

Meanwhile, Mr Trump and his allies are celebrating.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said at Mr Trump’s victory party, “I would like you all to remember this moment that you were here”.

“This is a great moment in American history,” he continued. “We will probably never see another one like it. Every time a rocket launches. You know, it goes up slow and it is climbing and climbing and then boom, that next stage comes off and it goes well we just did that we just hit maximum velocity. Will we go on all the way.”

Mr Trump’s series of victories continues to solidify his prospects as the 2024 Republican Presidential candidate. The party will formally choose their candidate at the Republican National Convention, to be held in July.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said at Mr Trump’s victory party, “I would like you all to remember this moment that you were here”.

“This is a great moment in American history. We will probably never see another one like it. Every time a rocket launches. You know, it goes up slow and it is climbing and climbing and then boom, that next stage comes off and it goes well we just did that we just hit maximum velocity. Will we go on all the way,” he added.

An Alabama court’s ruling this week putting the future of in vitro fertilization (IVF) at risk for thousands of families across the state hit the national discourse on abortion like a brick through its window.

Republican politicians scrambled to defend themselves, even as it was clear that the conservative fantasy of ending the protections of Roe vs Wade had been the direct impetus for the ruling. GOP figureheads from Speaker Mike Johnson to presidential candidates Donald Trump and Nikki Haley fell over themselves to come out in favour of IVF protections (thanks in no small part due to the comparatively wealthy status of families with financial access to IVF).

“Government doesn’t need to get into something this sensitive. This should be between the doctor and the parents. Period,” said Nikki Haley on Saturday, providing a quote that could have been copy-and-pasted from a pro-choice group after Roe’s demise.

Speaking about the general election, Mr Trump said, “Nine months is a long time. I just wish we could do it quicker”.

“You know, in certain countries, you’re allowed to call your election date – If I had the right to do it. I do it tomorrow. I’d say we’re having an election tomorrow,” he added.

Former president Donald Trump is projected to defeat Nikki Haley in the South Carolina GOP primary, the Associated Press reports.

Mr Trump secured the expected victory over Ms Haley in her home state, where she served as governor from 2011 to 2017. This marks yet another defeat for former UN Ambassador Haley, who has vowed to continue fighting Mr Trump despite her many primary losses.

Ms Haley stayed resolute going into Saturday’s race, even after losing to the “none of these candidates” box listed on Nevada ballot papers earlier this month.

Mr Trump spoke about migrants after his win was projected in South Carolina.

“Millions and millions of people coming across the border illegally. We don’t know where they come from. They come from jails. They come from prisons. They come from all sorts of places that we don’t want to know. They come from mental institutions and insane asylums, and we don’t want that in our country,” he said.

“We’re not going to stand for we’re not going to stand for you have terrorists coming in … we can’t do this no country could could sustain what’s happening to the United States of America, no country, so we’re gonna straighten things out the border is the worst it’s ever been,” he added.