Trump ‘not perfect’ but Nikki Haley endorses him over Biden ‘catastrophe’

Washington: Former presidential hopeful Nikki Haley says she plans to vote for Donald Trump in the November election, months after warning Americans that the US would descend into chaos if he returned to the White House.

In her first public comments since suspending her campaign for the Republican presidential nomination in March, Haley once again urged the former president to “reach out” to the millions of people who supported her and not just take their votes for granted.

Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at the Hudson Institute in Washington.Credit: AP

Speaking in her new role as the Walter P Stern Chair of the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank, Haley gave a searing critique of America’s national security weaknesses, saying the nation needed to “grow a spine” particularly in terms of the Israel-Hamas war and Russia’s ongoing assault of Ukraine.

Asked whether Trump or President Joe Biden would do a better job on national security, the former UN ambassador paused briefly before giving her endorsement to Trump.

“As a voter I put my priorities on a president who’s going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account. Who would secure the border – no more excuses. A president who would support capitalism and freedom. A president who understands we need less debt, not more debt,” she said.

“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.”

Haley’s backing makes her the latest Republican to endorse Trump’s bid to return to power, alongside other presidential hopefuls such as Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, South Carolina senator Tim Scott, and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

But her endorsement is particularly notable given the pair spent months attacking one another during the primary contests for the early voting states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina – all of which Trump won, despite facing four separate criminal trials.

“I feel no need to kiss the ring. And I have no fear of Trump’s retribution, I’m not looking for anything from him,” she said earlier this year, criticising the “herd mentality” of her fellow Republicans.

She also pitched herself as a new generation candidate, compared to 81-year-old Biden and 77-year -old Trump, calling for mental competency tests for both and warning voters about the latter: “Everywhere he goes, chaos follows him.”

Having lost the early primary elections and then lost to Trump again on Super Tuesday, the biggest primary nominating contest of the season, Haley suspended her campaign on March 7 and urged Trump to earn her supporters.

Many of those supporters still continue to vote for her in primary races despite the fact she is no longer a candidate.

Earlier this month, for example, she won 21 per cent of the vote in Indiana and a further 20 per cent of voters in Maryland, signalling ongoing discontent with Trump, who is currently on trial for falsifying business records ahead of the 2016 election.

“I stand by what I said in my suspension speech,” Haley told the audience in Washington on Wednesday (Thursday AEST).

US President Joe Biden, a “catastrophe”, says Haley.Credit: AP

“Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me and not assume that they’re just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that.”

Haley is now the most high-profile former presidential candidate to back Trump. Only three other Republicans who also sought the nomination – former vice president Mike Pence, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas governor Asa Hutchison – have not.

Insiders had long believed Haley would be forced to endorse him before the election to avoid permanently alienating the Republican Party base.

Others have speculated on whether she would re-emerge on Trump’s long list of vice presidential contenders in the coming months, despite his previous statement to the contrary and Haley earlier insisting this was “off the table”.

“Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the VP slot, but I wish her well!” Trump wrote on Truth Social earlier this month.

Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.