Nikki Haley On Backing Donald Trump: Americans 'Are Not Going To Vote For A Convicted Criminal'

GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley defended her decision to back her party’s nominee, irrespective of their legal standing, displaying unwavering confidence in American voters.

What Happened: During the GOP primary debate last month, Haley, along with other candidates, pledged to support the party’s nominee even if that person were a felon. This pledge was a requirement set by the Republican National Committee for candidates to participate in the debate.

“What you saw were candidates on that stage said that they would do exactly what they signed and pledged to do which is support the Republican nominee,” Haley said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”

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Despite this, Haley voiced her belief that American voters would not elect a convicted criminal, stating, “The American people are not going to vote for a convicted criminal. The American people are going to vote for someone who can win a general election. I have faith in the American people.”

Why It Matters: Donald Trump, who is facing legal issues, continues to be the popular choice among Republican primary voters, as indicated by national GOP primary polls. Trump, who didn’t participate in the debate, has pleaded not guilty to all charges in four different cases.

Haley’s public pledge comes in light of her history of critical remarks against Trump. In June, she labeled Trump as “incredibly reckless” if the federal charges against him were accurate. She also suggested that it might be time for the Republicans to move on from Trump, considering his legal entanglements.

Haley had earlier urged Republicans to trust a “new generation” of leaders, signaling a shift away from Trump-era politics.

"And so, I think that, yes, I will support the Republican nominee always, and I will make sure that that person, we're going to pick someone that's going to beat a President Kamala Harris. Because we can't have a President Kamala Harris or we'll never get our country back," she said.

Photo by lev radin on Shutterstock

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