At a high-stakes event at the Hudson Institute in Washington, D.C., Nikki Haley made a bold political pivot, announcing her support for Donald Trump in the upcoming November elections. The endorsement came to light during a penetrating question-and-answer session on Wednesday, marking a notable shift in her past 2024 presidential preferences.

“I put my priorities on a president who's going to have the backs of our allies and hold our enemies to account, who would secure the border—no more excuses,” Haley started. “A president who would support capitalism and freedom, a president who understands we need less debt, not more. Trump has not been perfect on these policies; I have made that clear many, many times. But Biden has been a catastrophe.”

“So, I will be voting for Trump. Having said that, I stand by what I said in my suspension speech: Trump would be smart to reach out to the millions of people who voted for me and continue to support me, and not assume that they're just going to be with him. And I genuinely hope he does that.”

The endorsement is seen as a calculated move as Haley navigates her path within the GOP and the political arena. Despite her previous criticisms of Trump, her support could unite a divided Republican base while maintaining her unique political identity.

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In her first public address since exiting the GOP presidential race, Haley, despite previously critiquing Trump, signaled a GOP rallying around the former president. Haley, who ended her campaign two months ago without endorsing Trump, had accused him of sowing chaos and undermining U.S. global alliances.

She had also raised concerns about whether Trump, at 77, was too old for the presidency. However, Trump, known for his sharp retorts, had branded Haley “Birdbrain” during the campaign, a nickname he dropped after clinching enough delegates to be the presumed GOP nominee in March. Trump has clarified that Haley is not being considered for his VP.

Meanwhile, Biden’s campaign is strategically targeting Haley's base, seeing them as potential swing voters. The campaign is forming a 'Republicans for Biden' group, aiming to attract the substantial number of Haley supporters in key battleground states, sources close to the matter revealed to The Associated Press.

On the other side, Haley has criticized Biden's foreign policy and his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border. An event in Washington marked her reentry into the political sphere after meeting with donors in South Carolina earlier in May. The gathering was described as a gesture of gratitude rather than a political strategy session.

Haley's reluctance to back Trump after her presidential bid withdrawal has sparked much speculation about her future moves. Aligning with Trump could alienate moderate and anti-Trump GOP factions, yet her endorsement might be crucial if she eyes another presidential run. As for the Biden team, they continue their efforts to woo undecided Haley supporters, who showed her significant backing in recent primaries across Maryland, Indiana, Wisconsin, and other states.

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