Former President Donald Trump quashed claims that former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley was in the running for his vice presidential pick.
On Saturday, an Axios report claimed Trump was eyeing Haley as his running mate, per multiple sources. Along with Haley, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem had also been speculated to be in the running as Trump's vice presidential pick prior to revealing she made the decision to kill a dog for "aggressive" behavior in her new book, No Going Back.
However, Noem's chances of securing Trump's vice presidential slot tanked after the story's release as sources claimed Trump may choose Haley "if he were convinced she’d help him win the presidency, avoid a potential prison sentence and cover tens of millions in legal bills if he loses.”
Several hours after the article's publication, Trump took to Truth Social and denied the claim.
"Nikki Haley is not under consideration for the V.P. slot, but I wish her well!" Trump wrote.
Axios later updated their report to reflect the former president's remarks.
“Only President Trump will rule a contender for Vice President in or out, and anyone claiming to know who he will choose is lying," wrote the Trump campaign's National Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
Trump has not commented on his upcoming vice presidential pick, though other contenders include North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.
In early March, Haley suspended her presidential campaign leaving Trump the lone remaining Republican candidate.
“It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And I hope he does that,” she said, per AP News. “At its best, politics is about bringing people into your cause, not turning them away. And our conservative cause badly needs more people.”
In April, Haley joined the Hudson Institute as its next Walter P. Stern Chair.
“Nikki is a proven, effective leader on both foreign and domestic policy,” said John P. Walters, the organization’s president and CEO, in an April 15 press release. “In an era of worldwide political upheaval, she has remained a steadfast defender of freedom and an effective advocate for American security and prosperity. We are honored to have her join the Hudson team.”
The Hudson Institute was founded in 1961 as a research organization that develops strategic recommendations regarding “foreign and domestic policy, national security, economics, and international relations.” The organization is headquartered in Washington, D.C and relies on an “interdisciplinary study in defense, international relations, economics, energy, technology, culture, and law.”
Editor's Note: A previous version of this article mistakenly referred to Burgum as the governor of South Dakota.
