Former President Donald Trump referred to one of his primary opponents — former Governor Nikki Haley (R-SC) — as a “birdbrain,” and in an apparent effort to drive the point home, his campaign delivered a birdcage and a bag of seeds to her hotel room.

Trump made the comment in a post to Truth Social after the second Republican primary debate — which he did not attend — saying, “‘I will never run against our great President,’ she said, ‘he has done an outstanding job.’ To which I responded, ‘How nice of you to say, Nikki,’ knowing full well that her words mean nothing. She even came to Mar-a-Lago with her family, ‘bearing gifts.’ Anyway, Birdbrain doesn’t have the TALENT or TEMPERAMENT to do the job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”

Haley shared a photo of the “gift” in a post on X, adding the caption, “After a day of campaigning, this is the message waiting for me outside my hotel room … #PrettyPatheticTryAgain #YouJustMadeMyCaseForMe.”

After a day of campaigning, this is the message waiting for me outside my hotel room…#PrettyPatheticTryAgain#YouJustMadeMyCaseForMe pic.twitter.com/htbSumo58r

— Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) October 1, 2023

Critics attacked Haley in the responses, accusing her of fabricating a hoax and referencing convicted hoaxer Jussie Smollett.

And then they yelled, “This is MAGA country!” pic.twitter.com/oxkPQUGbRQ

— Prison Mitch (@MidnightMitch) October 1, 2023

pic.twitter.com/rY6G3UxnGY

— Cernovich (@Cernovich) October 1, 2023

But according to The Messenger’s national political reporter Marc Caputo, the Trump campaign — in addition to dropping the birdcage off at Haley’s hotel — had texted him to make sure someone in the media was aware they had done it.

“At 1:30 am, the Trump camp texted me the birdcage-and-feed photo in front of Haley’s Des Moines hotel door After I woke up, we posted a story about it @TheMessenger,” Caputo said via X. “Now some people are suggesting we fell for a hoax lol. Check some of the replies THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!”

At 1:30 am, the Trump camp texted me the birdcage-and-feed photo in front of Haley’s Des Moines hotel door

After I woke up, we posted a story about it @TheMessenger

Now some people are suggesting we fell for a hoax lol

Check some of the replies

THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE! https://t.co/oyTZDUQZrR pic.twitter.com/3iwopd1F53

— Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 1, 2023

The Dispatch’s Andrew Egger responded as well, adding, “Weird story here — Trump campaign leaves a birdcage at Haley’s hotel, then messages @MarcACaputo about it to brag. But when Haley posts about it she’s dogpiled by folks who say she did it herself! Sort of thing that couldn’t happen before personalized algorithmic news consumption.”

Weird story here–Trump campaign leaves a birdcage at Haley's hotel, then messages @MarcACaputo about it to brag. But when Haley posts about it she's dogpiled by folks who say she did it herself! Sort of thing that couldn't happen before personalized algorithmic news consumption https://t.co/CH6eFvyQ1k

— Andrew Egger (@EggerDC) October 1, 2023

Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) said over the weekend that he will make a decision about whether he is going to launch a third party run for president within the next three months.

Speaking to Shannon Bream on Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” Manchin asked: “Why not have options? People aren’t satisfied right now.”

“A lot of people like you as an option. And you’ve said, once you make a decision, a target will be on your back,” Bream said. “So you’re waiting till the right time. But the fact is, the calendar is now going to start working against you. What is the timeline? Do you have any announcements to make this morning?”

“Not this morning. Let me just say this. I’ll do it,” he responded. “I’m more concerned about the country right now. What you’ve seen the theatrics have played out yesterday. And up until yesterday. It’s ridiculous.”

Manchin said that the U.S. needs a leader that can work with the center Left and the center Right and not be beholden to the extremes on either side.

“You have to work together. Kevin McCarthy, I praise Kevin McCarthy for what he did yesterday, he finally realized you can’t reason with unreasonable people, with the extremes,” Manchin said. “I hope that people, these people are represented. I hope their constituents finally say enough is enough. We want people that at least keep our government running and moving in the right direction. We can do that. And I think yes, I can bring it together. That’s all I’ve ever done.”

Manchin said that if former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden do not start coming back toward the center then “we’re going to bring it back.”

When pressed again about what his time was, Manchin responded: “Well, I said before the end of the year, I will. We’re still planning. I mean, if something what you’re saying would happen, there is no primaries, you just go right into the foray.”