Who is Nikki Haley, the woman who tried to stop Donald Trump?

During a press conference Wednesday morning, Nikki Haley announced the suspension of her campaign, a decision that comes following a significant defeat on Super Tuesday and her victory in only two Republican primaries.

Her withdrawal establishes his rival Donald Trump as the Republican candidate in the 2024 presidential race, facing Joe Biden. Nikki Haley didn’t explicitly support Donald Trump, but she still took the time to congratulate him on his victory.

Nikki Haley didn’t explicitly support Donald Trump, but she did take the time to congratulate him on his victory.

Born on January 20, 1972 in Bamberg, South Carolina, Nikki Haley is of Indian origin, and her parents, Ajit Singh Randhawa and Raj Kaur Randhawa, immigrated to the United States from Punjab, India.

Before entering politics, Haley earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Clemson University. She then worked for FCR Corporation, a waste management and recycling company.

Haley’s political career began in the South Carolina House of Representatives, where she served from 2005 to 2010. She was the first woman of Indo-American descent to be elected governor in the United States.

Haley served as Governor of South Carolina from January 2011 to January 2017. During her tenure, she focused on economic development, job creation and education reform. She was re-elected in 2014.

Following the racially-charged Charleston church shooting in 2015, Haley was instrumental in the decision to remove the Confederate flag from the grounds of the South Carolina State House.

In 2017, Nikki Haley was appointed by President Donald Trump as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. She held this position until her resignation in December 2018.

As ambassador, Haley was known for her tough stance on issues such as Iran, North Korea and recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. She often advocated a more assertive U.S. role in international affairs.

Haley resigned as ambassador in October 2018. After leaving the Trump administration, she wrote a memoir entitled With All Due Respect: Defending America with Grit and Grace, which was published in 2019.

After leaving office, Nikki Haley’s name is often mentioned as a potential future presidential candidate. Her political profile and experience make her a key figure in the Republican Party.

In 2019, Nikki Haley criticized Trump’s first impeachment attempt, comparing it to a death sentence. She emphasized the excess of impeaching a president for an unrealized favor and an unconditional payment of money. In 2021, she also condemned Twitter’s suspension of Donald Trump following riots on Capitol Hill by his supporters.

Haley has stirred controversy by making several pledges on social issues, including promising to support a strict federal ban on abortion, with no exceptions, raising heated debates about her stance on this sensitive subject.

In February 2023, Nikki Haley formally announced her candidacy for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election. She stressed the importance of a leader different from Trump, aiming to avoid four years of revenge, feuds and drama.

Although Donald Trump is the clear favorite among Republican candidates for the 2024 presidential elections, Nikki Haley is considered one of the leading figures in the future of this political party.