Former US Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said on Wednesday she would vote for Donald Trump in the 2024 general election, but warned the prospective candidate not to take the support of those who back her for granted.
Haley's announcement at a conservative think tank in Washington could be a blow to President Joe Biden, who is tied in polls with Trump.
Haley is the last of Trump's rivals to withdraw from the race for the Republican nomination ahead of the Nov. 5 election, but despite withdrawing in March, she still has a significant share of votes against Trump in states across the country. continues to gain numbers. The Biden campaign has been counting on the support of anti-Trump Republicans to give the incumbent an advantage.
Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at an event at the Hudson Institute in Washington, May 22, 2024. (Getty/Kyodo)
“As a voter, I prioritize a president who stands by our allies, holds our enemies accountable, secures our borders and tolerates no excuses,” Haley said at the Hudson Institute, in her first public appearance since dropping out of the Republican primary.
Haley also said she supports a president who supports “capitalism and freedom” and understands that what the country needs is “less debt, not more debt.”
“Trump was not perfect on these policies, I've made that clear many times, but Biden has delivered disastrous results, so I will be voting for Trump,” Haley said at a foreign affairs event at the institute.
But the 52-year-old former South Carolina governor, who later served as U.N. ambassador under the Trump administration, said, “Trump is trying to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me. That would be wise,” he continued. Don't think they'll just stay with him, and I sincerely hope he does. ”
Before wrapping up her 2024 campaign, she repeatedly argued that Trump and Biden are equally bad for the future of the United States and urged Republican voters to choose a younger leader.
Polls have shown that many American voters are unhappy with the prospect of a rematch between Biden and Trump, with many polls showing Trump holding slight leads over Biden in key states despite the numerous criminal charges he faces.
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