Nikki Haley has repeatedly insisted that she has no plans to run against Donald Trump for the Republican presidential nomination in 2020. But if she changes her mind, has a strong base of support on The View.
Following Haleyâs surprise resignation from her role as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Tuesday, the morning show co-host lavished praise on her and expressed hope that she would reconsider a primary run against the sitting president.
âIâm a little surprised, because didnât she seem to add some stability to this administration?â Sunny Hostin said. âI think a lot of us looked to her to be the voice of reason,â she added, suggesting that Haley could have been the author of the anonymous op-ed criticizing the administration in The New York Times, a charge Haley has denied.
âI think her position is very important in terms of how we engage with the rest of the world and Iâm very, very concerned that she has resigned,â Hostin said, adding later that Haley is âthe only one that has left this administration smelling like a rose.â
Meghan McCain, who returned to The View on Monday after a hiatus following her fatherâs death, called Haley a âreal voice of reasonâ on national security issues involved Russia, Syria and âthings globally that traditional conservatives believe.â
âIâve never made any qualms about how much I love her, I know her,â McCain continued. âIf she ends up primarying President Trump, girl, Iâll run your campaign, period.â
During a press appearance with the president Tuesday morning, Haley reiterated her assertion that she has no plans to run against Trump. âNo, I am not running in 2020,â she told reporters, definitively. âI look forward to supporting the president in the next election.â
Confronted with that fact, McCain added, âLike my dad used to say, unless youâre dead or under indictment youâre running for president.â