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TV star Judith Sheindlin has endorsed Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley.
Sheindlin, better known as Judge Judy, gave a glowing endorsement for Haley, whom she described as "whip-smart."
"I'm proud to endorse Nikki Haley because she is whip-smart, has executive credentials and was a superb governor," Sheindlin said in a statement released by Haley's campaign on Tuesday.
"She has the international gravitas as Ambassador to the United Nations. She is principled, measured and has the illusive quality of real common sense.
"I truly think she can restore America and believe she is the future of this great nation."
Haley responded by saying she was "honored" to have Sheindlin's support, calling her "Justice Judy" and describing the judge as "no-nonsense."
The former South Carolina governor added that Sheindlin "has earned the respect of millions of Americans from her courtroom by being thoughtful, fair, and honest."
But not everyone was pleased with Sheindlin's decision.
"Truly disgusting that Judge Judy has endorsed Nikki Haley for president. Haley would pass a federal abortion ban and just last year called for the deportation of U.S.-born African American Sen. Raphael Warnock. What a way to throw away decades of goodwill. Bad judgement, Judy," complained one person on X, formerly Twitter.
Another added: "Judge Judy just endorsed Nikki Haley for President. I'm sorry, but why would I care?"
But others welcomed the endorsement, including one person who wrote: "The election is over. Judge Judy endorsed Nikki Haley."
Sheindlin previously endorsed former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who ran for the Democratic nomination in the 2020 presidential election.
Sheindlin is a former family court judge who moved into television in 1996, where her hit courtroom show Judge Judy ran for 25 seasons.
The show made Sheindlin one of the highest-paid TV, earning earned $47 million per year plus a cut of show profits. The show saw adjudicate real-life small-claims disputes in a simulated courtroom set.
"I remember that conversation because it was a life-altering conversation for me," Sheindlin said of becoming a TV judge while testifying in court, according to a 2017 report from The Hollywood Reporter. "I said as a matter of fact I did. I thought I would make a great TV judge and I know that Joe Wapner had just gone off the air."
Other notable names to endorse Haley have included radio host Charlamagne Tha God, Meghan McCain, The View host Alyssa Farah Griffin and billionaire Ken Langone.
About the writer
Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more