Donald Trump made it clear Saturday that former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is just not on his list of candidates, dispelling rumors that his campaign has considered her as an option.
“Nikki Haley is not considered for vice president, but I wish her all the best!” the presumptive Republican presidential nominee wrote in a single truth social Post, sign the message “DJT”.
The comment got here several hours later Axios reported, citing two anonymous sources, that Haley was involved within the Trump campaign's vice presidential interview. Several media reports later confirmed the rumors.
The political calculation behind a Trump-Haley ticket is clear.
Haley's wealthy donor base could help Trump address his fundraising woes, that are exacerbated by legal fees related to several ongoing lawsuits.
Additionally, Haley, who has not yet endorsed the previous president, could help win over Trump-skeptical Republican voters that President Joe Biden's campaign has been courting since Haley dropped out of the race.
Haley suspended her presidential campaign in March but remains to be picking up votes, including in Thursday's primary in Indiana, where she received nearly 22% of the vote.
Despite the plain political benefits, the bitter battle between Trump and Haley in the course of the Republican primary eliminated her possibilities of winning the vice presidency.
“She’s not a presidential candidate,” Trump said of Haley at a rally in New Hampshire in January. “If I say that now, it probably means she won’t be elected vice president.”
For her part, Haley has repeatedly said she had no real interest in the vice presidential seat while she was still on the campaign trail.
Trump's veepstakes have drawn increasing attention in recent weeks, including from high-dollar donors trying to push their very own endorsements.
Some names on the list include representatives from the House of Representatives. Elise Stefanik, RN.Y., former GOP presidential candidate Sen. Sen. Tim Scott, RC Marco Rubio, R-Fl. and Governor of North Dakota. Doug Burgum.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem also seemed to be a VP front-runner, although her probabilities were slim on account of the backlash to her recent memoir, which incorporates anecdotes about shooting several of her family's pets on the farm and an unconfirmed story a few meeting have apparently sunk The North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.
“I liked her a lot,” Trump said in an interview with Spectrum 1 News Wisconsin on Tuesday. “I don’t want to comment on anyone on the list. But she had a rough few days. I have to say that.”
With the entire vice presidential candidates supporting Trump's campaign, the previous president has delayed making a final decision on his potential running mate.
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