Former President Donald Trump has stated that former GOP presidential rival Nikki Haley will “absolutely” be part of his team as he faces President Joe Biden in the 2024 election. Trump made this prediction during two interviews following a significant campaign rally in the Bronx.
In her first public comments since ending her presidential campaign, Haley confirmed she would vote for Trump. “Trump has not been perfect on these policies. I have made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe. So, I will be voting for Trump,” said Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.N. ambassador under Trump.
Haley, who ended her White House bid over two months ago, still garners up to 20% of the vote in Republican primaries. She suggested that Trump should reach out to her supporters. “Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me,” she said.
In an interview Trump responded, “I appreciate what she said. The party is together.” He reiterated this sentiment in an interview, stating, “I think she’s going to be on our team because we have a lot of the same ideas, the same thoughts. You know, we had a nasty campaign. It was pretty nasty. But she’s a very capable person and I’m sure she’s going to be on our team in some form. Absolutely.”
Haley launched her presidential campaign in February last year, becoming the first major candidate to challenge Trump, who had announced his candidacy three months earlier. The two engaged in a contentious primary battle that lasted from the New Hampshire primary in late January through Super Tuesday in early March. During the campaign, Trump targeted Haley with various attacks, including mocking the absence of her husband, who was on military deployment. Haley, in turn, questioned Trump’s mental fitness and described him as “unhinged.”
Haley announced the suspension of her campaign on March 6, the day after Trump won 14 of the 15 GOP nominating contests on Super Tuesday. As of now, Haley’s team has not responded to Trump’s comments.
This development suggests that despite the fierce primary competition, Trump anticipates a unified front as the GOP prepares for the 2024 presidential election.
