Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley, born on January 20, 1972, is a prominent American politician and diplomat who made history as the first Indian American to serve in a presidential cabinet. She held the office of the 116th governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017, becoming the state's first female governor and the second U.S. governor of Indian descent, following Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. Her tenure as governor was marked by her decisive leadership during the 2015 Charleston church shooting, which garnered national attention.

In January 2017, Haley was appointed as the 29th U.S. ambassador to the United Nations under President Donald Trump. During her time in this role, she became known for her strong advocacy for Israel and her defense of the Trump administration's controversial decisions, including the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris climate agreement. She also led the U.S. exit from the United Nations Human Rights Council, stepping down from her ambassadorial position on December 31, 2018.

Haley's political journey began in 2004 when she was elected to the South Carolina House of Representatives, where she served three terms. She later became treasurer and then president of the National Association of Women Business Owners before her gubernatorial election in 2010. In February 2023, she announced her candidacy for President of the United States, quickly emerging as a significant contender in the Republican primaries.

In the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries, Haley secured a historic victory in the Washington DC primary, becoming the first female Republican presidential candidate to win a primary and the second woman of color to achieve such a milestone. Despite her efforts, she suspended her campaign on March 6, 2024, after a challenging Super Tuesday, ultimately endorsing Trump. Following her campaign, the Hudson Institute appointed her as the next Walter P. Stern Chair, marking another chapter in her influential career.