Nikki Haley to enter GOP presidential race Feb. 15, giving Trump 1st official rival


Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley (R) will formally announce she is running for president at a Feb. 15 event in Charleston, The Post and Courier reported Tuesday night. An email will go out to her supporters on Wednesday, inviting them to the event, The Associated Press reports. Former President Donald Trump is the only official GOP presidential candidate so far, though Haley has forecast her intention to run for the nomination in recent weeks.
Haley was U.S. United Nations ambassador under Trump until she stepped down in 2018, at which point she moved back to South Carolina, joined the board of Boeing, wrote two books, and jumped on the speaking circuit, "reportedly commanding fees as high as $200,000," AP reports. She said in 2021 that she would not run for president in 2024 if Trump ran, but has suggested recently she changed her mind. Trump nevertheless reminded everyone of that pledge while campaigning in South Carolina last weekend.
"She said she would never run against me because I was the greatest president, but people change their opinions, and they change what's in their hearts," Trump told WIS-TV. "So I said, if your heart wants to do it, you have to go do it."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump has been less kind to his main perceived rival for the '24 nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who he has called "DeSanctimonious" and, last weekend, "disloyal" if he runs for president. DeSantis, asked about Trump's critique on Tuesday, noted that he won his re-election bid. Other likely 2024 GOP candidates include former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and possibly former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), a Trump critic.
Trump's campaign said Tuesday it raised $9.5 million between his Nov. 15 campaign launch and the end of 2022. "That amounted to an average of $201,600 a day, a fraction of the sums that established front-runners from past elections — in both parties — have collected in their opening weeks," The New York Times reports. Trump's campaign also reported spending more on fundraising than it brought in last quarter, Politico notes, calling that "an ominous sign, as the early days of campaigns are often a time for candidates to reap easy cash from enthusiastic donors."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Supreme Court upholds 'ghost gun' restrictions
Speed Read Ghost guns can be regulated like other firearms
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump sets 25% tariffs on auto imports
Speed Read The White House says the move will increase domestic manufacturing. But the steep import taxes could also harm the US auto industry.
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Trump allies urge White House to admit chat blunder
Speed Read Even pro-Trump figures are criticizing The White House's handling of the Signal scandal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Waltz takes blame for texts amid calls for Hegseth ouster
Speed Read Democrats are calling for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and national security adviser Michael Waltz to step down
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge: Nazis treated better than Trump deportees
speed read U.S. District Judge James Boasberg reaffirmed his order barring President Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US officials share war plans with journalist in group chat
Speed Read Atlantic editor Jeffrey Goldberg was accidentally added to a Signal conversation about striking Yemen
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Canada's Mark Carney calls snap election
speed read Voters will go to the polls on April 28 to pick a new government
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Musk set to earn billions from Trump administration
Speed Read Musk's company SpaceX will receive billions in federal government contracts in the coming years
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published