Ms Nikki Haley’s call to republican presidential frontrunner Mr Donald Trump to tamp down on his anti-immigrant rhetoric won praise from Republicans and Democrats alike, but the real estate mogul was not amused. Supporters of Trump were angered that Ms Haley called him out and many took to Twitter and mocked her Indian heritage, making fun of her Indian given name. “Some people think that you have to be the loudest voice in the room to make a difference,” South Carolina’s Indian-American governor said in the Republican Party’s response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.

“That is just not true. Often, the best thing we can do is turn down the volume,” she said without naming Mr Trump, who has rattled the Republican establishment with his rhetoric particularly his call to temporarily bar all Muslims from entering the US. Ms Haley acknowledged that she was referring to Mr Trump when she warned Americans not to follow the angriest voices in politics. “Mr Trump has definitely contributed to what I think is just irresponsible talk,” the daughter of Sikh immigrants from India told NBC. The remarks drew praise from many Republicans and Democrats and even the White House for “willing to do something that a lot of other leading Republicans have been unwilling to do, which is to actually articulate a commitment to some core American values.”

“Look, that doesn’t mean that we agree with Governor Haley on everything; we surely don’t,” Mr Obama’s press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters. “But her willingness to stand up for some important principles was noted, and it took courage. And for that, she deserves credit,” he said. White House chief of staff Mr Denis McDonough also expressed approval for Ms Haley. “I have a lot of admiration for the governor,” Mr McDonough said describing parts of her speech as “admirable.”