Former President Donald Trump has denied reports that he is considering Republican front-runner Nikki Haley as his running mate.
President Trump posted on his social media platform, Truth Social Saturday, “Nikki Haley is not being considered as a running mate, but I wish her the best!”
Axios reported, citing two people familiar with the matter, that Haley is being considered as Trump’s running mate.
The two have had contentious primaries, with Haley not endorsing Trump. Many of her supporters also remain wary of the former president, a red flag as he seeks to unite the Republican Party ahead of the general election.
Haley continues to win significant votes in primaries across the country. Haley won 22% of the vote in this week’s Indiana primary, even though she withdrew from the race more than two months ago.
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Choosing a running mate who can appeal to Republican voters who support Ms. Haley could be an advantage for President Trump in November, and Ms. Haley herself may be the best person to do so. However, many of President Trump’s MAGA supporters were dissatisfied with Haley during her primary campaign, and adding her to her list of candidates could confuse his base.
While excluding Haley as a running mate, President Trump’s “wish her well” comment signals that he is ready to mend fences and bring Haley voters into the campaign. It seems to be showing.
“President Trump is the only one who decides who his running mate will be, and anyone who claims they know who he will choose is lying,” Trump spokesman Brian Hughes said in a statement.
