Nikki Haley has emerged as the Republican primary candidate who garnered more votes than anyone else challenging Donald Trump for the presidential nomination in the current cycle. Despite previously announcing her support for Trump and allowing her delegates to back him at the Republican National Convention, she has not actively campaigned alongside him. Reports suggest that while she has provided Trump’s campaign with a schedule of available dates for potential appearances, no events have materialized as of yet.
Trump’s team did not respond to inquiries about why Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and South Carolina governor, has not been seen supporting the nominee in public appearances. A source close to the situation, who spoke anonymously, confirmed that Haley had indeed communicated her availability for campaign efforts. During the primary season, the relationship between Trump and Haley was marked by sharp exchanges, as she frequently questioned the suitability of both Trump and President Biden for office, even advocating for cognitive assessments for older politicians.
Haley often warned that selecting Trump as the nominee could lead to Kamala Harris assuming the presidency, implying that Biden would be unfit to run again. In her speeches, Haley consistently pointed out the impending possibility of a female president, stating it would either be her or Harris. She suggested that “chaos” accompanied Trump and articulated her reservations about his candidacy.
As Trump grew increasingly frustrated with her prolonged campaign, which made her his last primary foe, he reacted to her events with disdain. Following an appearance by Haley in January, Trump disparagingly referred to her using a nickname on social media, threatening to cut ties with any supporters who contributed to her campaign.
Upon exiting the race after the Super Tuesday events, Haley took two months before publicly endorsing Trump and opted to release her delegates to support him. When she eventually attended the Republican convention in July, she remarked that voters could back Trump without necessarily agreeing with him on every issue, emphasizing party unity.
Haley has stated that she remains prepared to campaign for Trump, launching her own Sirius XM radio show where she often critiques Harris. Additionally, she has participated in robocalls and made fundraising appeals to support Trump’s endeavors, as communicated by her advisers. Despite her lack of outward campaigning for Trump, she maintains her support for him in the general election. Notably, Harris’s campaign has sought to appeal to disenchanted GOP voters, particularly those who preferred Haley.
In a recent statement, Haley asserted her stark differences with Harris, asserting that any effort to leverage her name in support of Harris would be misleading. She reiterated her backing of Trump, emphasizing the need for strength, safety, and prosperity in America.
Haley’s choice not to campaign directly with Trump may ultimately serve her interests in future political endeavors. According to veteran Republican strategist Terry Sullivan, this strategy could enable her to appeal to both the pro-Trump faction and the ‘never-Trump’ group, thus maintaining her political viability for another run.