Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley has called her rival Donald Trump "insecure" after he spread false claims that she is not eligible to be US president.
The former president shared a "birther" conspiracy theory questioning her eligibility because her parents were not born in the country.
But Ms Haley was born in the US, which means she can run for office.
Asked about the attacks on CNN, Ms Haley said: "I know President Trump well...That's what he does when he feels threatened".
She added: "That's what he does when he feels insecure."
For years, Mr Trump pushed a false conspiracy theory that President Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii, had forged his birth certificate and was born in Kenya.
Ms Haley is Mr Trump's closest rival in the next contest of the Republican race to be the party's presidential nominee. Voters in New Hampshire will select their candidate on Tuesday and although Ms Haley has narrowed the gap, polling still suggests the former president has a substantial lead.
Since Ms Haley's popularity has risen in the state, Mr Trump has ramped up his attacks on his former UN Ambassador, who was born in South Carolina to immigrant parents from India. Those born in the US are eligible for office.
In addition to spreading an article claiming Ms Haley cannot run for president, Mr Trump also referred to her by her birth name, Nimarata, calling her "Nikki 'Nimrada' Haley" on his social media platform Truth Social. Ms Haley's middle name is Nikki.
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