Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley sought to clarify her remarks about the US Civil War, stating that slavery was unquestionably the cause of the war but that it was also about the freedoms of every individual and the role of government. Many historians agree that slavery was the catalyst for the Civil War. The incident has injected debates about race and slavery into the 2024 presidential contest. Haley's campaign has gained momentum, but she still trails behind Donald Trump and Florida governor Ron DeSantis.