‘Got zero help’: Nalin Haley slams ‘nepo baby’ jibes; says critics ignore real Gen Z struggles

Nalin Haley

Nalin Haley, son of former South Carolina governor and US diplomat Nikki Haley, hit back on Sunday at critics calling him a “nepo baby” and a “spoiled brat”. The backlash began after political activist Olivia Julianna used the terms while accusing him of sounding entitled whenever he appeared on television. She also said she had “earned” her place without any parental advantage.

The exchange came amid growing online sparring over generational politics and economic frustrations, with some commentators dubbing it part of the ongoing MAGA “civil war”.

Responding to the criticism, Nalin wrote, “Spoiled brat for standing up to greedy corporations and wanting my friends and fellow Americans to have jobs, affordability and safety?” He insisted he had received “zero help” from his parents and argued that detractors were merely assuming he had benefited from his family name.

Another commentator questioned whether Nalin was “the public face of some op or just another rich kid railing against strawmen.” He argued that Nalin was ignoring the real issues affecting young Americans, from soaring tuition fees to housing hurdles, and accused him of choosing “performative” arguments instead.

The latest criticism follows Nalin’s recent clash with Canadian anti-transgender activist Chris Elston, who had said young men with a “woe-is-me attitude” needed to “snap out of it.” Nalin countered that his comments were being misread. “This isn’t about me,” he wrote. “I have a good job. This is about my friends and my generation who worked hard to get degrees in Business, Computer Science and Engineering and can’t get jobs because they have to compete with foreigners working for half their paycheque and with AI.”

The debate intensified after Nalin’s interview with the New York Post, in which he said many of his friends were still unemployed more than a year after graduating, despite doing everything “they were supposed to.” He said he believed the recent victory of Democrat Zohran Mamdani reflected broader frustration among young voters across the political spectrum.