Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley made a much-anticipated appearance at the Republican National Convention, taking the stage to a mix of cheers and boos from the attendees.
Haley, former President Donald Trump’s main rival in the primary, said she “strongly supports” the former president in a speech in Milwaukee, ending months of speculation about whether she would back her former rival.
But the initial reaction to Haley’s arrival was in stark contrast to that of Trump’s chief rival in the 2016 presidential election, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, who received a standing ovation from the audience, including Trump himself.
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Former Republican presidential candidate and former Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley speaks during the second day of the 2024 Republican National Convention at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on July 16, 2024. (Pedro Ugarte/AFP via Getty Images)
Still, Haley sought to send a message of unity by acknowledging that not everyone needs to agree 100% to support Trump in this year’s election.
“You don’t have to agree with him 100% of the time to vote for Trump,” Haley said, “Take my word for it: I haven’t always agreed with President Trump, but we agree more than we disagree.”
Texas Senator Ted Cruz speaks at the Republican National Convention. (Fox News)
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Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations before clashing with Trump, was not necessarily a sure thing to address the convention, but after the attempted assassination of Trump at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday, the message of unity behind the former president quickly spread across the GOP.
Following the former South Carolina governor, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who was Trump’s rival in the primary, took the stage and continued to preach a message of unity throughout his speech.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks at the Republican National Convention. (Fox News)
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“My fellow Republicans, let’s put Joe Biden back in the basement and put Donald Trump back in the White House. Life was more affordable when Donald Trump was president,” DeSantis said. “Our border was secure under Trump and our country was respected when Donald Trump was commander in chief.”
