Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has announced her candidacy for the 2024 presidential election, making her the first prominent challenger to former US President Donald Trump. It’s time for a new generation of leaders, the Republican said in a video on Tuesday morning (local time). The 51-year-old now has to assert herself in party primaries against Trump, who has already announced his candidacy.
The Republican was Ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s tenure from January 2017 to the end of 2018 – and from 2011 to 2017 as the first woman governor of South Carolina. As an ambassador, Haley also stood for Trump’s UN policy, which many diplomats viewed critically. Nevertheless, Haley earned respect across party lines. The arch-conservative politician was repeatedly traded for higher offices. After her time at the UN, the daughter of Indian immigrants briefly sat on the Board of Directors of aircraft manufacturer Boeing as a member of the Board of Directors.
The relationship between Trump and Haley is divided. In the primaries for the 2016 presidential election, she initially campaigned for Trump’s Republican challenger Marco Rubio. After the election, Haley nevertheless joined Trump’s team and the two repeatedly praised each other publicly. Haley had actually stated that he did not want to run for the White House against the 76-year-old if he were to compete. Trump announced his candidacy in November.
More prominent Republicans are expected to throw their hats in the ring in the coming months – including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former US Vice President Mike Pence. So far, Haley has not fared well in polls compared to her potential Republican opponents — her scores are in the low single digits.
For the Democrats, US President Joe Biden has so far declared his general intention to run again. However, he has not yet announced an official candidacy.
Haley is one of the few women to have declared her Republican nomination for the presidency in recent years. Her announcement was actually expected at a speech in Charleston on Wednesday. The event is likely to be her first official campaign appearance. In her now-released video, she warned that China and Russia were on the rise and believed the US could be bullied and pushed around. Haley made it clear that she didn’t want to put up with anything. “And when you step back, it hurts them more if you wear heels.”
