She got into the race: Republican Nikki Haley announced on Tuesday that she would run for the 2024 US presidential election, becoming the first notable candidate to challenge Donald Trump.
"I am a candidate for the presidential election," said the 50-year-old in a video to her supporters.
The former diplomat, rightly appointed to the UN in 2017 by Donald Trump, had been approached for several weeks to announce her entry into the competition for the White House.
She will, in all likelihood, be one of the only women to stand for election.
In her message, the former governor of South Carolina calls for a "new generation of leaders", criticizing in passing the record of the Republicans in the last election, where Donald Trump, 76, was kingmaker.
The former president of the United States quickly reacted to the announcement of Nikki Haley, wishing "good luck" to the candidate, without failing to underline that she had in the past committed not to run against him. .
"I told her that she should follow what her heart dictates and do what she wants," he said in a statement sent to AFP, not without a certain irony.
Stuck in a series of cases, the ex-real estate mogul, also a candidate since November 15, is currently not enjoying the campaign dynamics he was hoping for.
And after having gone it alone for three months, the billionaire gradually sees the Republicans polishing their weapons.
Nikki Haley had promised a "special announcement" on Wednesday to her supporters in Charleston, South Carolina, where workers were still busy installing speakers and platforms on Monday evening.
She will speak there in her first major meeting inaugurating her campaign.
His campaign site was already offering t-shirts, mugs and caps in his name on Tuesday morning.
"Even in our darkest days, we are incredibly lucky to live in America," said the daughter of an Indian immigrant couple, who grew up in a small town in South Carolina, in her campaign clip.
But Democratic President Joe Biden and the Washington "establishment" have an "appalling" record, regrets the Republican.
According to opinion polls - of course to be taken with a grain of salt - Nikki Haley is not necessarily the biggest threat to Donald Trump, however.
Donald Trump's former vice-president, Mike Pence, his ex-head of diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, the governors of Virginia and New Hampshire... many Republicans are considering a possible announcement of their candidacy soon.
In her race for the Republican nomination, Nikki Haley will probably have to face a competitor coming directly from her state: South Carolina senator Tim Scott, who is also very openly flirting with a candidacy.
Coincidence of the calendar? The elected African-American will also participate in an event in the seaside town of Charleston this week.
But most of the spotlight is on Ron DeSantis -- Florida governor and rising party star who topped the polls in some polls. He didn't officially start the race either.
The battle for the Republican nomination therefore promises to be bitter.
Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, or another... The candidate chosen by the Republican camp after the primaries will face in November 2024 the one nominated by the Democratic Party.
"Haley's announcement officially kicks off the long-awaited messy 2024 Trumpist primary," Democratic Party Leader Jaime Harrison said. "Bring out the popcorn," he added, implying that there would be action and casualties like in a Hollywood blockbuster.
On the Democratic side, President Joe Biden has said so far that he "intends to run again", and has promised to make his decision public at the start of the year.
Little by little, the architecture of his possible candidacy also begins to take shape.
No Democrats have come forward to challenge him.
02/14/2023 19:35:27 - Charleston (United States) (AFP) - © 2023 AFP
