Fears are mounting among former President Donald Trump supporters that a Vice Presidential nod to Nikki Haley may be imminent.
While Trump commands a massive lead in GOP primary poll, voters are worried about his refusal to rule out Haley as a potential running mate, with some close allies promising a “revolt” if the former U.N. Ambassador is invited to join his ticket.
In a Thursday morning POLITICO report, Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz told one reporter that Vice President Haley would be a “MAGA nightmare” and warned that she would attempt to “undermine” a future Trump White House.
“Nikki Haley as VP would be an establishment neocon fantasy and a MAGA nightmare,” Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) told me. “On Day One she would convert the Naval Observatory into an anti-Trump, resistance headquarters, undermining him at every step.” ~ POLITICO
Gaetz, a staunch Trump ally, has been especially vocal about his opposition to Haley. On Tuesday, Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk posted to X, “Nikki Haley must not become Trump’s V.P. candidate. Pro-war Pro illegals Pro censorship Pro DC Uniparty Haley would single-handedly drag down Trump enthusiasm 10-15% The base would revolt.”
Gaetz replied to Kirk, “Charlie is spot on.”
Earlier in the week, fellow Florida Congressman and Trump endorsee Byron Donalds posted to X, “The problem with [Nikki Haley] is that she tries to please everybody all the time. She should not be named V.P.”
While Trump has said it is “unlikely” he would choose Haley as his running mate, recent comments by allies close to the former President suggest there is a real threat of a Trump-Haley ticket.
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Charlie is spot on. https://t.co/sWlu1UbDil
— Matt Gaetz (@mattgaetz) January 16, 2024
The problem with @NikkiHaley is that she tries to please everybody all the time.
She should not be named VP.
— Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) January 16, 2024
The possibility of an alliance between Trump and Haley has been fodder for the DeSantis campaign. Governor DeSantis has repeatedly called on Trump to rule out the ticket, but no such assurances have been made. After Haley refused to appear on stage for the New Hampshire primary debate this week, DeSantis accused her of vying for the Vice Presidential nod.
“The reality is that she is not running for the nomination, she’s running to be Trump’s VP. I won’t snub New Hampshire voters like both Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, and plan to honor my commitments.” ~ @RonDeSantis on X
DeSantis notably has been the target of more negative spending than all other 2024 GOP presidential candidates combined. Last month, the Governor suggested that his opponents were going easy on each other in light of a potential team-up.
“There’s a reason why they spend money against me, Haley and Trump spend money against me. He has not spent any money against her. And she has not spent any money against him. She will not answer directly, and she owes you an answer to this, will she accept a vice presidential nomination from Donald Trump? Yes or no?”
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BREAKING: Asked twice if he would consider Nikki Haley (D-SC) as his vice presidential running mate, Donald Trump does NOT rule it out.
"I’ve always gotten along with Nikki."
Reminder: Haley and Trump have together spent over $30 million in false negative TV ads against Ron… pic.twitter.com/AkpMLwWemW
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) December 15, 2023
During an appearance on the Howie Carr show in December, Trump said it was “unlikely” that he would invite Haley to be his running mate but said the possibility was “interesting.” Trump told Carr that he wasn’t “even thinking about that” before adding, “I’ve always gotten along with Nikki.”
Just days prior, Trump’s daughter-in-law Lara told Newsmax host Eric Bolling about a potential Haley pick, “Crazier things have happened. I don’t know. I would never say never with Donald J. Trump. Never say never.”
Donald Trump Jr., however, had a different reaction, promising “to great lengths” to ensure Haley would not be his father’s running mate.
“She’s a puppet of the establishment in Washington D.C.,” Trump Jr. said at the time. “She’s the new favored candidate of the billionaire class because they want control.”
On Monday, Trump Jr. again slammed Haley as wanting “to be in every war the world has to offer.”
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