Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Wednesday voiced “complete support” for Vice President Pence in an attempt to knock down unspecified “false rumors” about his place on the 2020 Republican ticket.
“Enough of the false rumors. Vice President Pence has been a dear friend of mine for years. He has been a loyal and trustworthy VP to the President. He has my complete support,” Haley tweeted.
Haley, who departed the Trump administration last year, is widely considered a potential future GOP candidate for higher office. But the impetus for her tweet defending Pence was unclear.{mosads}
President Trump has been asked at various times throughout his first term whether he’s committed to keeping Pence as his running mate in 2020. In each instance, Trump has said yes and voiced support for Pence’s role in the administration.
“I think Mike Pence has been an outstanding VP,” Trump said Sunday when he was asked about a possible change atop the ticket. “I think that he’s been incredible in terms of the love that a lot of people — especially if you look at the evangelicals and so many others, they really have a great respect for our vice president. And so do I. And so do, I think, most people.”
Trump said in a June interview with “Meet the Press” that Pence would “100 percent” be his running mate in 2020.
Haley earlier this month chided Trump after he appeared to make light of a robbery at the Baltimore home of Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.). The former ambassador called the president’s comment “unnecessary.”
White House counselor Kellyanne Conway shot back that Haley’s commentary was unnecessary while emphasizing that the 2020 GOP ticket would be Trump and Pence.