Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley walked back her previous pledge to support the 2024 Republican presidential nominee, indicating she no longer feels bound by it.
In an interview, Haley said she had only signed the RNC pledge to participate in primary debates, but that the RNC has since changed.
Haley said, “As long as we are competitive, I’m going to continue to fight.”
“I don’t look too far ahead,” she continued.
Haley said, “The RNC pledge. I mean, at the time of the debate, we had to take it to where, ‘Would you support the nominee?’ And in order to get on that debate stage, you said yes. The RNC is now not the same RNC.”
“I think I’ll make what decision I want to make,” she added.
Haley said, “Let’s talk about Super Tuesday. If you wake up on Wednesday and you haven’t won anywhere, and that’s an if, would you then need to make the decision that it’s time to drop out of the race?” host Kristen Welker asked.
She continued, “I’ve always said this needs to be competitive. As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, I’m going to continue to fight. That’s always been the case.”
NBC’s Kristen Welker asked, “Based on what you’re saying, Ambassador, are you prepared to stay in this through the convention? Is that your plan?”
Haley said, “If the people want to see me go forward, they’ll show it. They’ll show it in their votes. They’ll show it in their donations. They’ll show it in the fact that they want us to continue to go forward. This is about really trying to get everyone to realize that this primary isn’t between Donald Trump and Nikki Haley.”
“I’ll make what decision I want to make,” repeated Haley.
She added, “But that’s not something I’m thinking about. And I think that while you all think about that, I’m looking at the fact that we had thousands of people in Virginia.”
She deflected questions about potentially dropping out if she didn’t win early contests, saying she would continue as long as the campaign remains competitive.
Haley also sharply criticized both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, suggesting neither should be president due to their age.
When asked directly if she would endorse Trump, Haley avoided giving a clear answer.
Welker said, “You’re laying this out in very stark terms. It sounds like, from your perspective, this is a battle for the Republican Party. You’ve been sharpening your attacks against Former President Trump. Everyone has noticed in recent days, in recent weeks.”
“Have you taken the prospects, the possibility of endorsing him off the table at this point? But is it off the table, Ambassador? It sounds like you are in a different place. Are people misinterpreting what you’re saying? Have you moved to a place where you’re no longer planning to endorse him?” asked Welker.
Haley said, “Well, I think, first of all, if you talk about an endorsement, you’re talking about a loss. I don’t think like that. When you’re in a race, you don’t think about losing. You think about continuing to go forward. What I can tell you is I don’t think Donald Trump or Joe Biden should be president.”
“I don’t think that we need two candidates in their 80s. I don’t think we want a Joe Biden who calls his opponents fascists or a Donald Trump who calls his opponents vermin. No one wants that. I think people want a new generational leader that is going to go back to what the American dream is, what we want for our kids, and a place that’s something that we can be proud of again,” she continued.
Welker asked, “You did sign a pledge, an RNC pledge to support the eventual nominee. Do you still feel bound by that pledge?”
Haley said, “I have always said that I have serious concerns about Donald Trump. I have even more concerns about Joe Biden.”
“So, is that a no? Are you bound by the RNC pledge?” said Welker.
“The RNC pledge– I mean, at the time of the debate, we had to take it to where, ‘Would you support the nominee,’ and in order to get on that debate stage, you said yes. The RNC is now not the same RNC. Now, it’s –’ said Haley.
Welker interjected, “So, you’re no longer bound by that pledge?”
Haley said, “No, I think I’ll make what decision I want to make. But that’s not something I’m thinking about. And I think that while you all think about that, I’m looking at the fact that we had thousands of people in Virginia, we’re headed to North Carolina, we’re going to continue to go to Vermont, and Maine, and all these states to go and show people that there is a path forward. And so, I don’t look at what if. I look at, ‘How do we continue the conversation?'”
She expressed concerns about Trump but more concerns about Biden, and said she would make her own decision.
Overall, Haley signaled she may not support Trump’s nomination and does not see herself as bound by her earlier pledge to the RNC.
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