Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley is expected to announce a presidential bid in just over two weeks, making her former President Donald Trump’s first GOP primary opponent for 2024.
Haley is expected to make the announcement officially on February 15 in front of a crowd in South Carolina with invitations going out as soon as Wednesday. Haley was the ambassador to the U.N. for two years in the Trump administration before departing the role.
The Post and Courier of Charleston first reported Haley’s plans to announce a run for the White House.
The news comes after Haley previously said she would not run against Trump in 2024.
“I would not run if President Trump ran, and I would talk to him about it,” Haley told The Associated Press in 2021.
The former governor has backed away from those comments, most recently appearing on Fox News calling for a ‘new generation’ of leadership in a swipe at Trump’s age.
“Yes, we need to go in a new direction. And can I be that leader? Yes, I think I can be that leader,” she said.
Last weekend, while at a low-key event, Trump said Haley called him to ask about running. He said he encouraged her to do so.
“She called me and said she’d like consider it and I said you should do it,” Trump told reporters.
Trump announced his third run for the White House in November and recently began campaigning, with stops in New Hampshire and South Carolina last week.
