Nikki Haley denies having presidential ambitions

Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who is often described as one of the Republican Party’s younger stars, this week denied having presidential ambitions.

“Everyone thinks that I'm ambitious, and everybody thinks I'm trying to run for something, and everybody thinks I want more,” Haley told CNN in an interview published Thursday night. “I can’t imagine running for the White House.”


Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, also denied being interested in becoming secretary of state or a senator. Her name is often raised in Republican circles as a potential future contender for the White House or other high-profile roles in government.

In her first weeks as U.N. ambassador, Haley has been outspoken in criticizing American adversaries such as Russia and condemning the recent chemical attack in Syria. President Donald Trump’s secretary of state, Rex Tillerson, has been notably less visible.

Haley attributed this dynamic to differences in their “personalities.”

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"He's very much an executive. He's thoughtful in his approach and how he moves forward,” she said, describing Tillerson. “I'm one that's not afraid to say anything. You know, I'm not easily intimidated and so I can go out and say things. So I think we actually complement each other very well.”

Haley said Trump has given her a “lot of leeway to just say what I think and interpret what he thinks” but said she “would never go rogue” against the president’s wishes.