Vivek Ramaswamy drew boos from the Republican debate audience on Wednesday for calling Nikki Haley "more fascist than the Biden regime."
Ramaswamy, the 38-year-old former pharma executive who is polling at 4.9 percent in the race, made the comments while accusing Haley of wanting to track internet users.
"The only person more fascist than the Biden regime right now is Nikki Haley, who thinks the government should identify every one of those individuals with an ID, that is not freedom. That's fascism."
The audience erupted in boos at Ramaswamy’s comments, nearly drowning out parts of his remarks.
Haley had previously suggested that social media users should be verified by name, to prevent foreign adversaries from using fake accounts to launch influence operations in the United States. Her proposal drew criticism from many Republicans who denounced it as an assault on freedom of speech.
Ramaswamy and Haley have sparred in prior debates, with Ramaswamy accusing the former U.N. ambassador of being bought off by the defense industry. Haley has mocked Ramaswamy's lack of foreign policy experience, telling him "every time I hear you, I feel a little bit dumber."