Former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, who was running for president until she suspended her campaign, released all 97 of her delegates and told them to support former president Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention next week.
The decision, first reported by Politico, comes after Haley said in May she would vote for Trump in November. It also comes as President Joe Biden faces mounting speculation of being replaced on the ticket by a more vigorous candidate, such as Vice President Kamala Harris, as the Democratic nominee.
“The nominating convention is a time for Republican unity,” Haley said in a statement on Tuesday. “Joe Biden is not competent to serve a second term and Kamala Harris would be a disaster for America. We need a president who will hold our enemies to account, secure our border, cut our debt, and get our economy back on track. I encourage my delegates to support Donald Trump next week in Milwaukee.”
It remains to be seen whether the 97 delegates vote for Trump, as they are not required to do so. They could instead support Haley or another Republican at the convention.
The former GOP presidential contender will not attend the RNC scheduled for July 15-18, her aide confirmed.
Haley “was not invited, and she’s fine with that,” spokesperson Chaney Denton said. “Trump deserves the convention he wants. She’s made it clear she’s voting for him and wishes him the best.”
The last major GOP candidate competing against Trump, Haley suspended her campaign in early March following her underperformance with voters on Super Tuesday. Before dropping out, she earned 97 delegates during the primaries. At the time, she refused to back Trump but wished him well.
“In all likelihood Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee when our party convention meets in July. I congratulate him and wish him well,” she said on March 6, the day after Super Tuesday. “I wish anyone well who would be America’s president.”
Trump and Haley have had a bitter relationship while campaigning, despite working with each other during the former president’s administration.
Haley criticized her primary opponent, saying he’s “just toxic” and that he lacks “moral clarity.” She also attacked Trump, 78, over his age and emphasized her relative youth at 52 years old.
Meanwhile, Trump mocked Haley by nicknaming her “birdbrain” following the second Republican presidential debate in September. Haley accused the Trump campaign of sending her a birdcage and bird food to her hotel room the day after he called her “birdbrain.” Though many social-media users believed it was a hoax, the stunt was confirmed to have been orchestrated by the Trump campaign.
Trump is expected to announce his running mate by the time the RNC starts next Monday. In May, the presumptive Republican nominee ruled out the possibility of a Trump-Haley ticket after rumors circulated that she was under active consideration.
The final two frontrunners for the vice-president slot are said to be Governor Doug Burgum (R., N.D.) and Senator J.D. Vance (R., Ohio), according to the New York Post. Senator Marco Rubio (R., Fla.) has a slight chance of getting picked.