Nikki Haley announces run for 2024 presidency

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Feb 12:12
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Sources state that her official candidacy will be announced in South Carolina, on February 15 during an event with supporters attending.

Nikki Haley during the Republican Jewish Coalition Annual Leadership Meeting in November (Bloomberg)

The former South Carolina Governor and former ambassador to the UN during ex-President Donald Trump’s term, Nikki Haley announced that she will run as a candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Fox News Digital cited sources stating that her official candidacy will be announced in South Carolina on February 15, during an event with supporters attending. Haley has been active on the GOP scene for the past two years through her political group Stand for America, which helped Republican candidates in the 2022 elections.

When asked last year about a possible run, she said, "... you know what I’ve said — I’ve never lost a race. I’m not going to start now. If there’s place for me, we’ll put a 100% in, and we’ll finish it." She later added that "when people underestimate me, it’s always fun."

Two weeks ago, Haley showcased her overt confidence on Fox News's "Special Report" by saying, "I think we need a young generation to come in, step up and really start fixing things… Can I be that leader? Yes, I think I can be that leader."

On Saturday, Trump declared to reporters that Haley called him to discuss her run to which he responded, "Go by your heart if you want to run," adding that he told her she "should do it." However, he recalled when Haley told the press in 2021 that she wouldn't run if Trump did and "that’s something that we will have a conversation about at some point if that decision is something that has to be made."

Haley has been amplifying her efforts, as confirmed by South Carolina-based social conservative leader Dave Wilson, "Nikki Haley has been laying the groundwork for a national launch ever since she went to the United Nations."

Wilson underlined that "with this announcement, Haley’s entered the countdown window. As they say at NASA, ‘Prepare for liftoff.’"

Haley is adamant on getting things done her way. Back in 2017, Haley threatened to take away billions of dollars in US foreign aid if sovereign countries didn't vote in favor of the UN resolution to recognize Al-Quds as "Israel's" capital and move the US embassy there. She has been a strong advocate of the Israeli occupation of Palestine.