Haley Supporting Trump: "Not Perfect, But a Better Choice"

[US Election 2024]

Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who competed with former President Donald Trump until the final stages of the Republican primary, came out in support of Trump on the 3rd (local time), two days before the November 5 presidential election, saying he is a "better choice, even if not perfect."

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Haley, a Republican, wrote in an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that "if you like his policies but are uncomfortable with his tone and excessive behavior, consider the costs of the past four years under the Biden administration," adding, "Clearly, Trump is the better choice."

Haley first noted, "There are millions of people who hold mixed views about Trump. They like most of what he did as president and agree with most of his policies. But they dislike his tone and cannot tolerate excessive actions like those on January 6, 2021," predicting that "this group will decide whether the former president (Trump) returns to the White House."

She pointed out, "Regarding this group, I would note that Trump is not the only name on the ballot," emphasizing, "This election is not a referendum on Trump. It is a choice between him and (Democratic presidential candidate) Kamala Harris."

Haley said, "I do not agree 100% with Trump's views," but added, "In most cases, I agree with Trump’s views. And I mostly disagree with Harris’s views. So the decision is easy." She argued that prices for almost all sectors Americans pay for?food, gasoline, insurance, utilities?have risen compared to four years ago, calling it "a direct result of the Biden-Harris agenda that fuels inflation." She also pointed to the large national debt, forecasting that "as president, Harris will worsen America’s fiscal crisis."

In particular, Haley emphasized the southern border issue, which the Trump camp has aggressively highlighted, calling it "our most urgent security threat. Biden and Harris have dramatically worsened the situation." She mentioned Russia’s war in Ukraine and the Middle East crisis, stating, "The Biden-Harris agenda has made the world much more dangerous," and "this is the world their failures have brought us in just four short years."

Haley stressed, "The Trump administration would be different." While acknowledging it "won’t be perfect," she agreed with his views that taxes should be kept low and reduced, and that expanding U.S. energy production to reduce foreign dependence is necessary, referencing Trump’s campaign promises. She also claimed, "When Trump was president, Russia did not invade other countries, Iran was following along, China was under serious pressure for the first time in decades, and our southern border was much safer." She framed the issue as a choice between Trump’s policies and the opponent’s, emphasizing, "Clearly, Trump is the better choice."

This op-ed drew attention as the U.S. presidential race remains extremely close until the final moments. In a situation where every vote counts, Haley’s support?classified as moderate within the Republican Party?could influence conservative voters who had not favored Trump. Earlier reports indicated that some of Haley’s supporters were weighing Vice President Harris instead of former President Trump. It was confirmed that some voters have formed a political action group called "Haley Voters for Harris."

Haley is a prominent female politician highly favored not only among mainstream Republicans but also among moderate voters. She has broad appeal across age (50s), gender (female), ethnicity (Indian descent), and religion (Sikh), and at one point emerged as a "Trump alternative" among anti-Trump figures within the Republican and conservative circles. During the primary, she engaged in sharp exchanges with Trump but did not express support for him upon withdrawing. However, she announced her support in April this year. Recently, she mentioned being ready to assist Trump, though local media believe it is unlikely she will attend campaign events.