Trump welcomes Haley to 2024 primary: 'Not a bad start'

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday welcomed his former U.N. Ambassador, Nikki Haley, to the Republican primary after she declared her candidacy for president the same day.

Haley formally announced her campaign in South Carolina, where she formerly served as governor, and appeared to take several swipes at her former boss during the announcement.

"America is not past our prime, it's just that our politicians are past theirs," she said, calling for "mandatory mental competency tests" for politicians over 75 years old. Both President Joe Biden and Trump exceed that age threshold.

Trump, for his part, welcomed Haley to the race and appeared to release her from a prior public promise not to run against him.

"Nikki Haley had a hard time making the decision to run for President because she very publicly stated that she 'would never run against the President. He did a GREAT JOB, and was the best President in my lifetime,'" Trump said on Truth Social. "I told Nikki to follow her heart, not her ambition or belief. Who knows, stranger things have happened. She's polling at 1%, not a bad start!!!"

Polling has consistently shown either Trump or Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis leading in the GOP primary race, though DeSantis has not announced any plans to run. Haley has consistently polled with single digit support, often earning just 1% as Trump stated, though a late January Harvard/Harris poll showed her earning 3% support from Republicans.

A Monmouth University poll from early February, however, saw Haley claim 1% support, with Monmouth University Polling Institute Director Patrick Murray remarking that voters largely appeared interested in the candidacies of Trump or DeSantis.

"Trump and DeSantis are grabbing most of the media attention, so it is not surprising that most Republican voters do not come up with any names other than these two," he said. "If DeSantis chooses to run against Trump it will be very difficult for any other candidate to get Republican voters to take a close look at them."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.