President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he would not extend invitations to former primary rival Nikki Haley or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join his upcoming administration, a notable slight to two key figures from his first term.
“I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join the Trump Administration, which is currently being formed,” Trump stated on his social media platform, Truth Social, on Saturday evening. “I truly enjoyed and valued our collaboration in the past, and I want to express my gratitude for their service to our country.”
Trump has harbored particular animosity toward Haley, his former ambassador to the United Nations, ever since she contested him in the GOP primary and became his last remaining opponent. During her campaign, Haley was openly critical of Trump, labeling him “diminished” and “unhinged” while appealing to voters seeking to move beyond his leadership. However, she later declared her intention to vote for Trump after he secured the GOP nomination by a significant margin.
After suspending her campaign and announcing her support for Trump, he mentioned in May that she would be part of his “team” in “some capacity.” She also endorsed him at the Republican National Convention in July.
Haley’s appeal to women and independent voters made her a compelling potential surrogate for Trump against Vice President Kamala Harris, and discussions took place between their teams regarding a joint campaign event. However, Trump’s lingering dissatisfaction with Haley after the primary caused those plans to fall through.
Chaney Denton, a spokesperson for Haley, expressed pride in her work with Trump during his first term and conveyed her wishes for him and all those serving alongside him to achieve great success in advancing a stronger, safer America in the coming four years.
Despite her support for Trump, Haley continued to voice some criticisms. In a Fox News interview last month, she pointed out that a speaker at a Trump rally had compared Harris to a prostitute with “pimp handlers,” stating, “That is not the way to win women. That is not the way to win over people who are concerned about Trump’s style.”
During the primary, Trump personally attacked Haley, ridiculing her husband and her given name that reflects her Indian heritage. She also had private disagreements with him during her tenure as ambassador to the United Nations in his first administration.
Pompeo, who held the positions of both Secretary of State and CIA Director during Trump's first term, did not have the same level of conflict with Trump. He contemplated challenging Trump in the primary but ultimately decided against it. Pompeo could not be reached for immediate comment.
As Trump begins to form his next administration, several leading candidates for key positions have already emerged. Potential contenders for Secretary of State include Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and former acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell, according to sources familiar with the discussions who requested anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Individuals close to Trump indicate that he is prioritizing loyalty in his selection process.