Donald Trump says not considering Nikki Haley as running mate, denies US news report
- The ex-US president said ‘I wish her well’ on Truth Social after a report said Haley could be picked if he thought she could help him win the White House
- While the former US ambassador to the UN has acknowledged that Trump would be the Republican nominee, she has so far not endorsed him
Donald Trump said on Saturday that former Republican US presidential candidate Nikki Haley was not being considered to be his running mate in the November election, dismissing a report by news site Axios.
“Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the V.P. slot, but I wish her well!” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
Citing people familiar with the situation, Axios had reported that Trump could pick Haley if he were convinced she could help him win the presidency, avoid a potential prison sentence and cover tens of millions in legal bills if he loses.
Haley, the former South Carolina governor and a former US ambassador to the United Nations, ended her long-shot challenge to Republican presidential front runner Trump in March.
Comment was not immediately available from Haley. While she has acknowledged that Trump, who repeatedly belittled her candidacy, would be the Republican nominee, Haley has not endorsed him.
There was already a long list of potential candidates for the vice-president position that includes North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem, US Senators Marco Rubio, Tim Scott and J.D. Vance, and US congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
Burgum and Scott competed against Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination before dropping out.
Noem has been embroiled in controversy after revealing in a memoir that she once shot a 14-month-old dog for being disobedient.
Trump is in no hurry to pick a running mate, according to advisers. He will not be formally nominated until the Republican convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July. He will face US President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in the November 5 general election.
