Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, will suspend her presidential campaign on Wednesday, clearing the way for Donald Trump to secure the Republican nomination and set up a rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden in the November election, a source familiar with her plans revealed.
Haley is scheduled to discuss her decision in a speech at 10 a.m. local time, without endorsing any candidate. She intends to encourage Trump to seek the support of her base, which consists of moderate Republicans and independent voters.
Her decision follows Super Tuesday’s outcomes, where Trump decisively defeated her in 14 of the 15 Republican nominating contests. Despite lasting longer in the race than any other Republican contender against Trump, Haley did not significantly challenge the former president’s strong hold on the party’s base amidst his multiple criminal indictments.
This upcoming election, featuring 77-year-old Trump against 81-year-old Biden, marks the first repeat presidential contest since 1956, amidst widespread voter dissatisfaction with both candidates according to opinion polls.
The anticipated election is expected to be highly contentious, reflecting the deep political divisions within the country. Biden has portrayed Trump as a threat to democracy, while Trump continues to dispute the 2020 election results.
Haley, 52, had garnered support from influential donors aiming to prevent Trump from receiving a third consecutive Republican presidential nomination, especially after strong debate performances that Trump did not attend.
Although Haley made significant inroads with moderate Republicans and independents, winning unaffiliated voters in New Hampshire and securing nearly 40% of the vote in South Carolina, she was unable to shift enough conservative voters away from Trump.
Her most notable achievements included winning the Washington, D.C., Republican primary with 62.9% of the vote against Trump’s 33.2% and a victory in Vermont on Super Tuesday, a state with a small, predominantly Democratic electorate.
