Former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley talked down speculation that she might try for a presidential run in 2024, as she appeared this morning on a national talk show ahead of her imminent exit as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
Haley, speaking on NBC's the "TODAY" show this morning, said that she and her husband, Michael, haven't discussed a run that could make her the nation's first woman president.
“I can promise you Michael and I have never talked about running for president, what that would look like, anything like that, because our lives have been such a fun surprise," Haley said. "The only decision I’ve made right now is that I’m looking forward to sleeping in."
Haley also addressed the October assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who officials in Turkey believed to be ordered at the highest levels of the Saudi government.
In an interview with "Today" host Craig Melvin, a Columbia native, Haley said the U.S. should tell the Saudi government "we won't condone this. We won't give you a pass, and don't do this again. And then, I think that the administrations have to talk about where we go from here."
The comments come as critics have criticized President Donald Trump's administration for not taking a harder stance to hold Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman accountable.
Haley's appearance comes as the former two-term Republican governor pivots to private life amid widespread speculation that she will run for president in 2024.
In published reports, Haley has said that she intends to live in New York City for the next two years as her son completes high school and that she possibly will write a second book.
The 46-year-old Bamberg native has served in public office since she was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives in 2004 and was elected governor in 2010.
Haley left the governor's office in January 2017 for the ambassador job and became one of the few members of President Donald Trump's administration to publicly push back on some of his more-controversial statements and policies.
Haley's biggest test as ambassador came last year as she navigated the North Korea nuclear crisis, successfully brokering sanctions that included traditional foes Russia and China.
In October, she announced she would resign the ambassador position at the end of this year.
