“She is a friend of mine, she endorsed me with the most beautiful endorsement you’ve ever heard. She did a great job at the U.N.,” Trump explained.

Rumors that Trump might replace Pence with Haley on the 2020 ticket have percolated for some time, especially as the Trump campaign looks to make headway with suburban women voters that moved away from the party in the 2018 midterms and continued to do so in local elections earlier this month.

Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, has widely been viewed as a top contender for the White House — as has Pence — should she decide to run in 2024. Though she’s tiptoed around questions about her national aspirations, the buzz has caused friction with members of Pence’s team, who have blamed her for the rumors.

Trump acknowledged the whispers, and while he didn’t deny that she would be “great,” Trump said he would continue to stand by Pence.

“Nikki would be great, but Mike Pence has done a phenomenal job as our vice president. He is our guy, he is my friend,” Trump concluded.