Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley said in 2021 that she had no plans to challenge her former boss, Donald Trump, for the presidency in 2024 amid strong hints even then that he was going to run again.
But on Tuesday, she broke that pledge and jumped in with both feet as she formally announced her bid to capture the Republican presidential nomination.
“It’s time for a new generation of leadership – to rediscover fiscal responsibility, secure our border, and strengthen our country, our pride and our purpose,” Haley said in her campaign announcement. “Republicans have lost the popular vote in seven out of the last eight general elections. That has to change,” she said in her first campaign video.
“Some people look at America and see vulnerability. The socialist left sees an opportunity to rewrite history. China and Russia are on the march. They all think we can be bullied. Kicked around. You should know this about me: I don’t put up with bullies. And when you kick back, it hurts them more if you’re wearing heels,” Haley went on to say.
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“You first look at does the current situation push for new leadership? The second question is am I that person who could be that new leader? Yes, we need to go in a new direction. Can I be that leader? Yes, I think I can be that leader.” Haley said on Fox News with Bret Baier.
Former Trump national security figure Sebastian Gorka reminded his followers on social media of Haley’s previous pledge: “In April 2021 @NikkiHaley told reporters she would never run against President Trump, but would support her former boss in his campaign for re-election. 5 minutes ago she announced her campaign for the Presidency. President Trump can’t trust her. Can you?”
In April 2021 @NikkiHaley told reporters she would never run against President Trump, but would support her former boss in his campaign for re-election.
5 minutes ago she announced her campaign for the Presidency.
President Trump can’t trust her.
Can you?
— Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) February 14, 2023
“Nikki Haley announced her candidacy this morning at 6:48am in the form of an uninspiring video that invoked her race, gender, and the ‘popular vote.’ She is clearly gunning for the NeverTrump vote and she will probably get it. She’s starting to sound like a closeted Democrat!” added conservative Students for Trump founder Ryan Fournier.
Nikki Haley announced her candidacy this morning at 6:48am in the form of an uninspiring video that invoked her race, gender, and the “popular vote.”
She is clearly gunning for the NeverTrump vote and she will probably get it. She’s starting to sound like a closeted Democrat!
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) February 14, 2023
Without a doubt, Haley has an uphill battle ahead of her. Trump continues to dominate potential ’24 GOP presidential contenders and by a lot in polls:
Economist/YouGov
Trump – 42 percent
Haley – 5 percent
Trafalgar Group
Trump – 43 percent
Haley – 12 percent
Emerson College (Jan. 24)
Trump – 55 percent
Haley – 3 percent
In her video, Haley also focused on race and ethnicity.
“I was the proud daughter of Indian immigrants,” she said. “Not black, not white, I was different. But my mom would always say your job is not to look at the differences but the similarities.”
She also talked about some of the country’s biggest challenges.
“China and Russia are on the march,” the 51-year-old Haley said. “They all think we can be bullied, kicked around. You should know this about me. I don’t put up with bullies. And when you kick back, it hurts them more if you’re wearing heels.”
She also used her signature line — that she’s “never lost an election” — but she hasn’t run for office in about eight years.
