Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley addressed a possible 2024 presidential run, saying on Saturday that she’s “never lost” an election and is looking at a White House bid “in a serious way.”
“A lot of people have asked if I’m gonna run for president. Now that the midterms are over, I’ll look at it in a serious way, and I’ll have more to say soon,” Hayley said at a Las Vegas meeting of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
“For now, I’ll say this. I’ve won tough primaries and tough general elections. I’ve been the underdog every single time. When people underestimate me, it’s always fun. But I’ve never lost an election. And I’m not gonna start now,” Haley said.
The former South Carolina governor hinted at a potential White House bid when she criticized President Biden’s plans to return the U.S. to the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which former President Trump left in 2018.
“If Biden succeeds in getting back in the Iran deal, I will make you a promise. I’ve said it before. The next president will shred it on her first day in office,” Haley said, spurring a bout of cheers and applause from the audience.
Haley had used the same line at the Christians United for Israel summit earlier this year, adding that “sometimes, it takes a woman.”
Haley has long been a rumored 2024 contender and has dodged questions about whether Trump should run for reelection to the White House.
Trump announced his 2024 run last week. His announcement followed disappointing midterm results for Republicans, including losses by a number of the former president’s favored candidates.
As many in the GOP appear to pull away from Trump, other potential 2024 contenders — including Haley, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence — are being mentioned as possible challengers to the former president in the party’s presidential primary.
DeSantis, who has polled well in a hypothetical primary matchup against Trump, fueled 2024 speculation with his victory over Democrat Charlie Crist in the midterms.
Pence sidestepped a question last month about whether he’d vote for Trump in 2024.
“Well, there might be somebody else I prefer more,” Pence said.