The Real Reason Nikki Haley Is Suddenly Supporting Donald Trump

In the Republican primary campaign, Nikki Haley was a fierce opponent of Donald Trump. Now she is backing him, apparently hoping to gain some influence under Trump 2.0. It’s quite likely that she deliberately chose the place to announce this.

Nikki Haley’s back. Nikki Haley? Yeah, exactly. She was the Republican presidential candidate who sparked enthusiasm with the left-liberal media and Democratic voters, but not with Republicans. She is a poster girl for contemporary transatlanticism: female, immigrant background (diversity!) and always a desire to rattle her saber (defending freedom in country XYZ).

That goes down well — except with Trump voters. They no longer have any desire for a return of the George W. Bush neoconservatives from the 2000s, which Haley represents. Trump, who vowed to keep the U.S, out of unnecessary wars, easily won the presidential nomination race for his party. Haley dropped out, without giving any support for Trump.

Until now. At an panel discussion Haley gave on May 22, she announced she will vote for Trump in November. It was only a half a statement of support, but it’s still something.

So, why the change of heart? There is a simple answer: Haley is a turncoat who will cozy up to anyone who can give her political influence. Currently, that would be Trump, who is enjoying some excellent poll ratings — and has the best chance of returning to the White House.

The complicated answer is more political. The old neocons in the Republican Party and in the think tank scene are up in arms over Trump’s candidate nomination victory, believing he will give up the new American containment policy against Russia and China and withdraw from security policy. To prevent this, they want to keep a foot in the door with the Trump camp.

It’s no wonder that Haley announced her plan to vote for Trump at a panel discussion of the Hudson Institute, which takes a hard line against Russia and Trump, just like Haley herself.

In her speech, Haley said that a dangerous worldview had taken root on both sides of the political spectrum: Some Republicans and Democrats wanted to appease their enemies and focus on the problems in the U.S.

For Haley and her associates, such an idea is naturally unthinkable. Haley wants more weapons for Ukraine, views China as an enemy preparing to go to war with America and wants to defend Taiwan against attacks from Beijing.

Trump Thinks Unorthodoxly

So far, Trump has been quite reserved on these issues. So Haley has to get to know the potential future president to make sure that he doesn’t break with foreign policy during his second term in office by reducing support for Ukraine or seeking a compromise with China in the Taiwan conflict.

Both are entirely possible. Trump thinks unorthodoxly and listens even less to representatives of the old foreign policy establishment, and in Congress Republicans are increasingly questioning aid for Ukraine much more confidently.

To make sure that fickle Trump follows his old influencers instead of the new ones, ambitious politicians such as Haley have to put aside their habitual aversion to Trump — and ensnare him with their voice. True professionals can do that, and should Trump fall in the polls, they can always change their opinion about him once again.