Nikki Haley and son Nalin Haley.
Nalin Haley, son of former US ambassador to the United Nations and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley, has defended his mother's decision to stay out of the 2028 presidential race, hitting back at critics questioning her political future. Responding to a social media user who mocked her decision, Nalin said his mother had made the right call and accused her critics of holding personal grudges against her. Nalin's remarks come after he questioned the Republican Party's performance in the midterm elections, arguing that it had failed to make use of its control over the White House, House of Representatives and Senate. "We primarily lost not cuz of what we did, but what we didn't do. We had control of the house, senate, and presidency. What did we do with it? Nothing!" he wrote in a post on X.
Nalin hits back at critic over Nikki Haley's 2028 decision
Nalin came to his mother's defence after social media user Justin Evans mocked her decision not to pursue another presidential campaign in 2028. "There are like 14 people at a private club in Southampton, NY, absolutely devastated by this news," Evans wrote in a post reacting to Haley's announcement. Responding to him, Nalin questioned Evans' political track record and brought up a gubernatorial campaign that ended in a significant defeat despite considerable financial resources and political backing. "Justin one day when you grow old, you'll realize holding a grudge because Nikki Haley fired you 17 years ago is not healthy. It's pathetic actually. Maybe if you focused less on her, you wouldn't be responsible for the worst ran gubernatorial race of all time," Nalin wrote. His response suggested that the continued criticism of his mother was rooted in a long-standing personal dispute.
Nikki Haley rules out 2028 presidential bid
Nikki Haley has made it clear that she does not intend to seek the Republican presidential nomination in 2028, although she plans to remain involved in politics. Speaking on Bloomberg Television's Balance of Power, Haley said she would continue advocating for policies she supports and backing candidates. "I am not running in 2028, but I will continue to talk about the things that I care about. I will continue to push good policy. I will continue to support good candidates, and we want a strong America. And whatever we have to do, I think every one of us has an obligation to try," she said. Haley also argued that Republicans should focus on addressing voters' concerns before turning their attention to choosing the party's next presidential nominee. She pointed to inflation, the rising cost of living and high interest rates as pressing economic challenges that the party had not adequately addressed.
Rubio, Vance among potential Republican contenders for 2028
With Haley ruling herself out, speculation has intensified over who could emerge as the Republican Party's presidential candidate in 2028. Vice-President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Texas Senator Ted Cruz are among the potential contenders being discussed. Donald Trump Jr., the US president's eldest son, has also been mentioned as a possible political successor to his father.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that Rubio had a slight advantage among Republican voters, with 45% describing him as an excellent potential presidential candidate. Vance followed at 43%, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis received 32%. Haley challenged Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination during the 2024 election cycle before suspending her campaign. Although she has now ruled out another presidential bid, her latest remarks indicate that she intends to remain active in shaping Republican politics through policy advocacy and support for candidates.
