Nikki Haley, the ex-governor of South Carolina, announced her intention to run for president in 2024, positioning herself as the first Republican candidate to challenge former President Donald Trump for the party's nomination.
Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has declared her candidacy for the 2024 United States Presidential election. Haley revealed her candidacy in an online video on Tuesday, highlighting her background as the daughter of Indian immigrants who grew up in the southern United States. She is the second Republican candidate to throw her hat in the ring for the party’s nomination, following former GOP President Donald Trump’s announcement last year.
Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, announced on Tuesday that she is joining the 2024 presidential race, setting up a potential contest against Donald Trump, who is considered a leading contender for the Republican nomination.#nikkihaley2024#NikkiHaley#Nikkipic.twitter.com/wr52BS9o9J
She emphasised her commitment to conservative principles, her experience as a former governor of South Carolina, and her tenure as the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. With the announcement, Haley becomes one of the early front-runners in what is expected to be a crowded and highly competitive Republican primary field for the 2024 presidential election. Furthermore, she highlighted her intention to reverse the Republican Party’s failure to win the popular vote in seven of the last eight presidential elections.
However, it is worth noting that in the U.S., presidential elections are determined by the Electoral College system rather than the popular vote. In her announcement, Haley also briefly mentioned her previous experience working as the top envoy to the U.N. under Trump, where she championed his “America First” policy, which was widely seen as confrontational towards international politics.
Haley Emphasized Leadership, Fiscal Responsibility, and Secure Borders
In her announcement video, Nikki Haley highlighted her tenure as governor of South Carolina, a state with a conservative majority, from 2011 to 2017. She criticized the Washington establishment for letting the American people down repeatedly. She emphasized the need for a new generation of leaders to emerge and bring fiscal responsibility, secure borders, and greater strength, pride, and purpose to the country. Haley’s focus on her record as governor is part of her strategy to appeal to Republican voters in the primaries, where she is expected to face a crowded field of candidates vying for the nomination.
Her announcement represented a significant shift from her earlier stance in 2021 when she stated that she would not run for president if Donald Trump were to announce a 2024 bid. However, she did leave the possibility open for reconsideration, saying that she would have a conversation about it if the need arose. Her decision to run despite Trump’s announcement indicates that she sees herself as a viable candidate in her own right, independent of Trump’s shadow.
Former US President Donald Trump announced in November 2022 that he would be running for the White House in 2024. The announcement came after the midterm elections, in which many of the candidates endorsed by Trump were perceived to have underperformed. Since then, many former Trump officials have been careful in their approach towards him, as he remains a significant figure in Republican politics despite his recent setbacks.
One such official is Nikki Haley, who has also been cautious in her dealings with Trump. As an influential Republican figure, Trump’s endorsement can still make or break a candidate’s political prospects. Therefore, Haley, like many others, is treading a fine line regarding her relationship with the former President.
Haley criticized Trump’s response to Capitol riots
Nikki Haley, a prominent Republican figure, has often positioned herself as a more moderate alternative to former President Donald Trump. She has been critical of Trump’s actions in response to January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, where his supporters tried to overturn President Joe Biden’s election victory. Haley has condemned Trump’s targeting of his then-Vice President, Mike Pence, who certified the election results. In an interview with Politico at the time, Haley expressed her disgust with Trump’s conduct and predicted that he would have no role to play in future Republican politics.
Nikki Haley throws her hat in the ring for the 2024 presidential race after UN ambassadorship Source: Web
In 2018, when Nikki Haley resigned from her position as the US ambassador, Donald Trump spoke highly of her and referred to her as an “extraordinary” person. He even offered her a pick of cabinet positions if she returned. Recently, a Yahoo News/YouGov poll suggested that Haley’s candidacy could benefit Trump in the upcoming Republican primary, where he is expected to face a strong challenge from Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Soon after the poll was released, Haley announced her candidacy for the presidential election.
Suppose Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, and Donald Trump ran for the Republican presidential ticket. In that case, a recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll suggests that Haley’s candidacy would divide the anti-Trump voters with DeSantis. This scenario, in turn, could give Trump an advantage in the primaries.
Defender of American Interests
Nikki Haley has presented herself as a staunch protector of American interests on the global stage. During her tenure as the US ambassador to the United Nations, she played a significant role in the country’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal, which had been signed during the Obama administration and was widely opposed by Republicans. One of Haley’s associates has stated that she announced her candidacy early to attract voters’ attention and add a new dimension to the ongoing presidential race.
Over the past few weeks, more than a dozen Republican officials and strategists have discussed the upcoming presidential race. They revealed that several key Republican donors and elected officials in South Carolina have been exploring alternative candidates to Trump. These officials are reportedly concerned about Trump’s electability in the upcoming election. Prominent Republicans like Nikki Haley and Senator Tim Scott chose not to attend a recent Trump campaign event in Columbia, which was intended to demonstrate his support in the state.
