President-elect Donald Trump announced in a public social media post Saturday that he will not be bringing back two members of the previous administration to the White House.
The post names Nikki Haley, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Republicans were considered the two leading candidates for Trump's new Cabinet.
“I will not be inviting former Ambassador Nikki Haley or former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join the current Trump administration,” the president-elect posted on Truth Social early Saturday evening.
Despite the tough nature of the announcement, Trump added that he enjoyed working with them.
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President-elect Donald Trump arrives at the Election Night Watch Party at the Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Wednesday. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
“I have greatly enjoyed and appreciated working with them and would like to thank them for their contributions to our country,” he continued. “Let’s make America great again!”
Haley, who ran against Trump in the Republican primary earlier this year, has publicly supported the president-elect but also been critical of him. Last week, she wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal supporting his presidential campaign.
“I disagree with Mr. Trump 100%,” Haley wrote. “But I agree with him most of the time and I disagree with Mr. Harris almost all the time, so this decision is easy.”
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Vice President Mike Pence (left), Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo listen to President Donald Trump speak at the 73rd United Nations General Assembly in New York City on September 25, 2018. (Spencer Pratt/Getty Images)
Mr. Pompeo is not Mr. Trump's most vocal supporter, but he has expressed support for the president-elect in the past. Mr. Pompeo endorsed Mr. Trump for president in an open letter with more than 400 signatories, including Gold Star families and national security officials.
“Under President Trump there was a world of peace, but under the Biden-Harris Administration we are closer to World War III than ever before,” the letter, written in October, said. “With multiple wars raging around the world, open borders allowing terrorists to flow into the American mainland, and unabated activity from malign powers like China, America's national security is in jeopardy with Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. – Hugely undermined by Biden's failed policies.
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Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks to members of the media next to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at United Nations Headquarters in New York City, July 20, 2018. (Kenna Betancourt/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to Ms. Haley and Ms. Pompeo for comment, but did not immediately receive a response.
Fox News Digital's Chris Pandolfo contributed to this report.
