Nikki Haley, a Republican leader of Indian descent, officially launched her run for the presidency of the United States in 2024 on Wednesday, positioning herself as a younger, more modern alternative to her former boss and outgoing US President Donald Trump.
On Tuesday, prominent Indian-American politician Nikki Haley officially announced her bid for the presidential run, becoming the first Republican to take on former President of the US, Donald Trump, in his 2024 bid for the White House.
The 51-year-old Haley served as governor of South Carolina for two terms and was previously the country’s ambassador to the UN. She took to Twitter to release a video announcing her campaign on Tuesday, after which she spoke at an event in Charleston, South Carolina, to kick off her presidential run on Wednesday.
Before looking at her formal declaration, let’s dive into what makes Haley a great candidate for the next US president, according to several eminent Indian Americans.
“Haley Comes With Great Credentials”
Nikki Haley, the first female governor of South Carolina and the first Indian-American to hold the office, was born in Bamberg, South Carolina, to Indian immigrant parents. She would create history once more as the first woman and the first Asian-American to lead the Republican Party if she were to win the presidential nomination in 2024.
Nikki Haley has excellent credentials as governor of South Carolina, according to M R Rangaswami, the founder of Indiaspora, who also noted that she has experience in foreign affairs as the US ambassador to the UN. As with their dominance on the Democratic side, Rangaswami continued that it was encouraging to see Indian Americans gain ground in the Republican Party.
Raj Vasudeva, who has known her for more than 30 years, claimed that Haley is a representative of the majority of middle-class people and commended how she led South Carolina. Dr. Anil Yallapragada, a South Carolina native and resident for the past 30 years, calls Haley “a competent and accomplished leader.” He remarked that she is beloved by the Indian American community.
She can make courageous judgments, says South Carolina native Kartar Singh, who has known Nikki Haley’s family for over three decades. She accomplished a great job as governor of South Carolina, reviving numerous industries and establishing new ones.
A first-generation American with Sikh ancestry vying for the highest position in America is a proud moment for people of color in America, according to Dr. Rajwant Singh, senior advisor to the National Sikh Campaign and head of the Sikh Council on Religion and Education. In addition, he asserts that Haley’s campaign will increase American awareness of Sikh identity and the turban.
Among Indian Americans, Haley is the third to announce a presidential run. Bobby Jindal and Kamala Harris will be the other two in 2016 and 2020, respectively. Today, Harris serves as the nation’s vice president.
Natives of South Carolina and Indian Americans have welcomed her announcement to run for the 2024 US presidential elections.
“I’m Nikki Haley, and I’m running for President.”
In South Carolina, Haley addressed a crowd of excited fans and stated, “For a strong America… For a proud America… I am running for President of the United States of America!”
Her speech mainly focused on uplifting a younger, more diverse generation. “We are more than prepared for a new generation to guide us into the future, and we are eager to get rid of the stale ideas and fading names of the past,” she declared. “I have a picture of that future when I come here now.”
Haley remarked, “The world is less safe when the United States is preoccupied. Our adversaries currently believe that the American era has ended. They’re in error. It’s not too late for America. Our politicians just have outlived their usefulness!” She continued, “If we keep believing in politicians from the 20th Century, we won’t win the battle for the 21st Century.”
“I must thus make an announcement. I stand before you as the proud wife of a combat veteran, the mother of two incredible children, and the daughter of immigrants,” she stated. Her formal announcement makes her the first candidate to enter the race to unseat her former boss Trump, 76, who declared his third candidature for the White House late last year.
To qualify for the presidential ballot, Haley must win the Republican Party’s presidential primary, which will get underway in January of the following year. On November 5, 2024, the United States will have its next presidential election.