Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor who served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations for the first two years of Donald Trump’s presidency, announced Tuesday her entry into the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
Haley, who previously claimed she would not run in next year’s contest if her former boss were to mount a bid to return to the White House, become the first major rival to officially challenge Donald Trump for the GOP nomination in 2024.
The ex-Palmetto State chief executive had teased the launch of a presidential campaign for several weeks, but she made the news official in a video released by her campaign.
In the video, Haley pointed out that it was time for a new generation of leadership.
A veteran of the Trump administration, Haley begins as an underdog in the GOP race. If successful, she would become the first woman and first Asian American to lead the Republican ticket. She previously made history as the first female Asian American governor and the first Indian American to serve in the Cabinet.
Haley has shifted her posture toward Trump over the years. She criticized him when he first ran in 2016, before joining his administration the following year and later vowing not to run against him in 2024.
In recent months, she has disavowed the pledge as she moved toward a planned announcement speech here in Charleston tomorrow.
Haley will continue her early state travel this week, holding a series of town halls in New Hampshire and Iowa hoping to build a following amid polls showing her lagging well behind Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential candidate.
Her announcement comes months after the entrance of Trump, who announced his third White House bid in November.
The campaign has progressed slowly, with other Republicans, including governors, senators, and former Trump officials, signaling an interest in the contest and making moves toward jumping in.
Follow the latest news on Google News
