Former President Donald Trump has hinted that he may consider former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as his running mate for the upcoming presidential election. According to a video posted on X by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign, Trump responded to a question about comments made by his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, on Newsmax earlier in the week, when asked if he would consider Haley as his running mate, by saying, “Never say never.”
However, he added that it’s unlikely to happen but fell short of ruling out the possibility. Trump also mentioned that he has always gotten along with Nikki and that they have some things in common and some things they don’t have in common, some of those being important.
DeSantis also addressed voters in a video, stating that there’s a reason why they spend money against him, Haley, and Trump. He noted that Trump has not spent any money against Haley, and she has not spent any money against him.
Ms. Haley’s campaign for president started slowly but has recently gained momentum in several recent polls. She is now running neck and neck with DeSantis for second place. While it has been rumored that Ms. Haley could accept a potential invitation to become vice president, it remains speculation.
Ms. Haley has served in the Trump administration as ambassador to the United Nations and maintained a healthy working relationship with then-President Trump. However, she has found herself at odds with some of his approaches in recent times. In 2021, she stated publicly that she wouldn’t run against the former president if he decided to run for the White House again in 2024, but she later reversed her decision.
According to former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, a female running mate for Mr. Trump seems likely, with potential candidates such as Kristi Noem, Elise Stefanik, Nancy Mace, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Kari Lake, and Marsha Blackburn being mentioned on the Sean Spicer show on December 15. Nonetheless, no indication has come from Mr. Trump confirming any of the names, nor who he would pick as a running mate once he secures his likely nomination.
On his campaign tour, Mr. DeSantis dismissed any possibility of accepting a running-mate deal with his fellow Republican rivals. He stated that he will not accept it because that’s not why he’s running, reiterating that he is running for the nomination and to be president.
DeSantis asserted that he is the only one who can beat President Trump. However, his campaign has shown recent signs of slowing down, leaving an even wider gap between him and President Trump. Despite this, Mr. DeSantis remains optimistic, stating that Haley cannot get enough support from core Republicans and conservatives. He believes that he is the only one that can appeal to conservatives and core Republicans.
As the race for the presidential election continues, the possibility of a Nikki Haley vice presidency remains speculative, with both Trump and DeSantis leaving the door open for the future developments.
The dynamic between the potential running mates and the impact it could have on the upcoming presidential election remains to be seen, as the candidates jockey for position in the race for the highest office in the United States.
