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ALL ABOUT NIKKI
Who is Nikki Haley?
FOR SIX years, Nikki Haley served as the governor of her home state; the youngest candidate and first woman to do so.
After working in Donald Trump's administration, she launched an unsuccessful presidential campaign against him.
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Who is Nikki Haley?
Nikki Haley was born Nimrata Nikki Randhawa in Bamber, South Carolina, on January 20, 1972.
She is the daughter of Indian immigrants and has one sister and two brothers.
Born into a Sikh family, she later converted to Christianity but still attends Sikh services out of respect for her parents' culture.
Haley graduated from Clemson University with a degree in accounting.
She is an American diplomat and politician who served many roles including:
- President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (2004)
- The 116th and first female governor of South Carolina (2011 to 2017)
- The 29th United States ambassador to the United Nations for two years (2017 to 2019)
Haley entered politics as a Republican, serving in the South Carolina House of Representatives for several years before becoming governor of the state.
In November 2016 she was made US ambassador to the UN - making her the first non-white woman in Donald Trump's cabinet.
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Nikki married Michael Haley in 1996 and the pair share two children, Rena and Nalin.
She has a net worth of $2million (£1.6m), according to .
When did former Governor Haley run for President?
On February 14, 2023, Haley announced her presidential campaign for 2024.
She told her Twitter followers: "The Washington establishment has failed us over, and over, and over again.
"It's time for a new generation of leadership to rediscover fiscal responsibility, to secure our border, and strengthen our country, our pride, and our purpose."
Haley's revelation follows months of speculation about whether or not the former South Carolina governor will make a bid for The White House.
Previously, she hinted at her potential presidential run on July 18, 2022.
While speaking at a summit hosted by Christians United for Israel on Monday, July 18, 2022, she said: “Anything Joe Biden signs will all but guarantee that Iran gets the bomb.
“No deal is better than a bad deal. And if this president signs any sort of deal, I’ll make you a promise.
"The next president will shred it on her first day in office.”
She quickly added at the end: "Just saying, sometimes it takes a woman."
Haley dropped more hints of a presidential bid in an interview that aired on January 19, 2023.
In the interview with Fox News's Bret Baier, she signaled her interest by stating: "When you’re looking at a run for president, you look at two things: You first look at, does the current situation push for new leadership?
"The second question is, am I that person that could be that new leader?"
She continued: "Yes, we need to go in a new direction. And can I be that leader? Yes, I think I can be that leader."
On March 6, 2024, Haley announced her decision to drop out of the 2024 Presidential race.
At a press conference, she explained: "Just over a year ago, I launched my campaign for president.
"When I began, I said the campaign is grounded in my love for the country.
"But the time has now come to suspend my campaign. I said I wanted Americans to have their voices heard, I have done that."
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What did Haley do as a US ambassador?
Former President Trump said he picked Haley because of her proven reputation as a "deal-maker".
She is considered to have been very visible during her tenure - unusual for a UN ambassador - and has crossed Trump on a number of his stances.
In March 2017, for example, Haley declared her opposition to Trump's proposed Muslim ban on the country, saying it would be "un-American."
Her tenure under Trump saw her make a number of dramatic announcements on war and peace.
Haley told the UN the missile strike on Syria in April 2017 was a "very measured step" and attacks similar to this would continue.
She also slammed Russia after it blocked a draft resolution for condemning the Khan Shaykhun chemical attack.
In April 2017, while holding her first session as President of the UN Security Council, Haley charged Iran and Hezbollah with having "conducted terrorist acts" for decades within the Middle East.
In October 2017, the federal Office of Special Counsel determined that Haley had violated the federal Hatch Act in June 2017 by retweeting Trump's endorsement of Ralph Norman, a Republican candidate for Congress in South Carolina.
The Office of Special Counsel issued a reprimand by letter but did not recommend any further action be taken against Haley.
The special counsel's letter warned Haley that any future violation could be considered "a willful and knowing violation of the law."
In October 2018, she resigned from her position as US ambassador.
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