It's Official: Nikki Haley Will Not Be Trump's Running Mate

AP Photo/Chris Carlson

Just in case you were wondering, former President Donald Trump is not choosing former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley as his running mate for 2024. The news comes amid widespread speculation about who Trump will pick to be his vice president if he wins in November.

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The former president made the announcement in a post on Truth Social. “Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the V.P. slot, but I wish her well!” he wrote.

Trump’s announcement came after a report from Axios that sources were saying that he was considering Haley, who ran as his rival in the GOP presidential primary races. The report cited two people familiar with the situation, one of whom described the relationship between the two as “chilly,” but indicated that she could help him win the election if he were convicted of a crime.

A Trump campaign official told The Hill that “anyone other than DJT” who “says they know who, when, or where he is on VP,” is not telling the truth.

The former president is considering a number of potential candidates for the position, including Sens. Marco Rubio (R-FL), J.D. Vance (R-OH), and Tim Scott (R-SC). North Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem was also believed to be a top contender until she made the questionable political decision to tell the world about how she killed one of her dogs in an upcoming book. There has even been talk of Tulsi Gabbard hitting the trail as Trump’s running mate.

Previously, Trump gave a slight indication in previous remarks that Haley was not disqualified. But Saturday’s post confirms that Haley will not be his running mate:

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Spokespeople for Trump and Haley declined to comment on Friday when asked about the possibility.

Flashback: Republicans such as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has ruled out being Trump’s running mate, but Haley danced around the question until just before the New Hampshire primary, when she said it was “off the table.”

That same week, Trump indicated he wouldn’t pick Haley but did leave a little wiggle room: “She is OK, but she is not presidential timber. And when I say that, that probably means she is not going to be chosen as the vice president.”

After suspending her presidential campaign, Haley joined a Washington think tank. However, it appears Haley is still making her mark on the race – at least for President Joe Biden, who is actively courting those who supported her candidacy:

On Friday, Joe Biden’s re-election campaign released a new ad appealing to former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley’s supporters.

Haley, who lost the Republican presidential primary to former President Donald Trump, has taken criticism from the presumed GOP nominee, including being labeled with the unflattering nickname, “birdbrain.”

In the 30-second ad, clips of the former President are shown disparaging Haley with quotes including him calling her a “RINO” (Republican In Name Only), and describing his former United Nations Ambassador as, “not presidential timber.’ Trump is also depicted questioning the mental capacity of his GOP rival, saying, “she’s gone crazy, she’s a very angry person”, and “she’s gone haywire.”

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At the moment, it is difficult to tell whether Biden's overtures to Haley supporters will yield any fruit. While her supporters might not be gung ho about supporting Trump, there is a possibility that many of these individuals will either stay home on Election Day or back an independent candidate. However, all indications suggest this will be a close race, which means Biden will need all the votes he can rake in--explaining why he could be trying to woo this voter segment.

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