By Nikki Schwab, Senior U.S. Political Reporter
17:10 03 Mar 2024, updated 18:59 03 Mar 2024
- GOP hopeful Nikki Haley said Sunday that she wasn’t bound by the Republican National Committee pledge to endorse former President Donald Trump
- ‘No, I think I’ll make what decision I want to make,’ she told NBC’s Meet the Press host Kristen Welker who pressed Haley about the pledge
- All the Republican candidates who wanted to take part in the GOP primary debates had to sign a pledge to support the eventual Republican nominee
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Sunday that she wasn’t bound by a Republican National Committee pledge to endorse former President Donald Trump because it’s ‘not the same RNC.’
Haley, along with the other 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls, had to sign a pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee if they wanted to participate in the Republican primary debates – all of which Trump skipped.
The former U.N. ambassador was asked Sunday by Meet the Press’ Kristen Welker if she still felt bound to the pledge, as the remains the final Republican challenger to Trump in the 2024 GOP primary race.
‘No, I think I’ll make what decision I want to make,’ Haley said, also noting ‘the RNC is now not the same RNC.’
RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel is leaving her post on Friday and Trump has already endorsed North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley to take her place, as well as his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to serve as co-chair.
Trump also gave a nod to his top campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, to take over as the party’s chief operating officer.
At recent campaign stops, Haley has railed against these moves, arguing that the party shouldn’t be taken over by the MAGA wing while she remains in the race.
Haley’s path to the nomination, however, is quickly narrowing – and will likely be mathematically impossible by the middle of this month.
On Tuesday, voters from 16 states and one U.S. territory will vote in ‘Super Tuesday’ primaries.
Welker pressed Haley on whether she would drop out of the race if she didn’t win anywhere.
‘I’ve always said this needs to be competitive. As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, I’m going to continue to fight. That’s always been the case,’ the former U.N. ambassador said.
The Meet the Press host then asked Haley how she could define being ‘competitive’ if she didn’t win a single state.
‘Well, first, let’s see what happens on Super Tuesday. I don’t like to look at what ifs or hypotheticals. I think we always have to live in the moment,’ Haley answered.
Welker then asked Haley if she was prepared to stay in the race to the Republican National Convention in July.
‘If the people want to see me go forward, they’ll show it. They’ll show it in their votes. They’ll show it in their donations. They’ll show it in the fact that they want us to continue to go forward,’ Haley said.
The conversation then turned to whether Haley would ultimately endorse Trump.
The former South Carolina told Welker that she did fear another term of President Joe Biden over Trump, but also said she wasn’t sure if Trump would adhere to the Constitution during a second term.
On the broader question Haley remained noncommittal.
‘Well, when you all ask Donald Trump if he would support me, then I will talk about that,’ Haley said. ‘But right now my focus is, “How do we touch as many voters? How do we win?” I want the American people to see that you don’t have to live this way. There is a path foward. And we can do it with someone who can put in eight years, that can constantly focus on results and not the negativity and the baggage that we have right now.’
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
