Charleston, South Carolina – Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley is set to announce her withdrawal from the Republican presidential race Wednesday, clearing the way for former President Donald Trump. Despite a series of losses in GOP nominating contests on Super Tuesday, Haley is expected to deliver remarks at 10 a.m. ET in Charleston.
Sources familiar with Haley’s plans indicate that she will not endorse Trump but will instead call on the former president to earn the support of voters who previously backed her. This move leaves room for a potential endorsement of Trump before the general election in November. Haley, who served as Trump’s US ambassador to the United Nations, was the last major candidate defeated by Trump in a GOP primary that he dominated.
Having pledged to stay in the race through at least Super Tuesday, Haley had started sharpening her attacks on Trump, questioning his mental fitness and likening him to President Joe Biden. However, following a string of losses in 2024 primaries, including in her home state of South Carolina, Haley faced diminishing prospects against Trump as the race transitioned to a national scale.
Despite becoming the first Republican woman to win two primary contests in Vermont and the District of Columbia, Haley’s inability to secure a significant delegate count ultimately led to her exit from the presidential race. Her departure underscores the unwavering loyalty of Republican voters to Trump, despite general election polls indicating that Haley would have performed strongly against Biden.
Throughout her campaign, Haley aimed to differentiate herself from Trump as a candidate capable of appealing to moderate and independent voters. While she had initially pledged to support the eventual GOP nominee, recent indications suggest that she may no longer feel bound by that commitment.
Haley’s political journey, which began with defeating a 30-year incumbent in a state House primary, saw her rise to prominence as South Carolina’s governor and later as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations. Despite speculation about her future after leaving the Trump administration, Haley’s decision to exit the presidential race signifies a significant turn in the Republican primary landscape.