A combination showing Republican presidential candidate and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley (left) campaigning in New Hampshire on January 23, 2024, and former U.S. president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Reuters
Donald Trump said Saturday that former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is not on his short list for running mate, putting to rest rumors that his campaign was considering her as a potential candidate. .
“Nikki Haley is not being considered for VP, but we wish her the best of luck!” The presumptive Republican presidential nominee signed the Truth Social post with the message “DJT.” I wrote.
The comments came hours after Axios reported, citing two unnamed sources, that Haley had been involved in conversations with Trump’s vice president. Subsequently, multiple media outlets repeatedly reported this rumor.
The political calculations behind the Trump-Haley ticket are clear.
Haley’s wealthy donor base could help offset Trump’s fundraising problems, but legal costs related to multiple ongoing lawsuits are exacerbating the problem.
Additionally, Haley, who has not yet endorsed the former president, may be in a position to gain support from Republican voters skeptical of Trump, which President Joe Biden’s campaign has been trying to capture since Haley withdrew from the race. Could be helpful.
Haley suspended her presidential campaign in March, but continues to garner votes, including nearly 22% of the vote in Thursday’s Indiana primary.
Despite clear political advantages, the bitter contest between Trump and Haley in the Republican primary ended Haley’s chances as vice president.
“She’s not the president’s correspondent,” Trump said of Haley at a New Hampshire rally in January. “If I say that now, it probably means she won’t be elected vice president.”
Meanwhile, Haley repeatedly said during her campaign that she had no interest in the vice presidential seat.
President Trump’s veep stakes have garnered more attention in the past few weeks, including from big-ticket donors seeking to promote their own recommendations.
The list includes Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-Wy.), former Republican presidential candidate Sen. Tim Scott (R-Wy.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), among others. North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, who was also seen as a front-runner for vice president, has been criticized for her new memoir, which includes an anecdote about shooting several of her family’s farm pets and unconfirmed accounts of meetings. The backlash appears to have weakened that possibility. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
“I really liked her,” Trump said in an interview Tuesday on Spectrum 1 News in Wisconsin. “I don’t want to comment on anyone on the list. But she’s had a tough few days. I’ll say that.”
While all of the vice presidential candidates are supporting the Trump campaign, the former president is taking some time to make final discussions with his running mate.