Nikki Haley made remarks on Thursday expressing her lack of surprise at President Biden dropping out of the race and her belief that he would not have been the eventual Democratic candidate. Haley, who previously ran for the GOP nomination in 2024 and later endorsed Donald Trump, had been vocal about her concerns regarding Biden's mental competency. She had called for a mental competency test for Biden in February and had predicted that he would not be able to complete a hypothetical second term.
During a recent interview, Haley stated, 'I wasn't surprised, and I didn't take happiness in it. I fought for mental competency tests throughout the campaign not out of disrespect but because I believe it's a broader issue in D.C. where individuals are propped up by their staff and family despite potential concerns for the American people.' She also emphasized her view that a vote for Biden was essentially a vote for Kamala Harris.
Despite her criticisms of the Democrats, Haley acknowledged the strategic move of nominating a younger candidate. She mentioned that the Democrats had chosen a younger candidate, which she believed resonated with the American public. However, she also asserted that they had selected the weakest candidate possible.
Throughout her campaign, Haley had consistently raised concerns about Biden's mental state, suggesting that his decline was evident to everyone leading up to the election. She had previously stated, 'A vote for President Biden is a vote for President Harris,' indicating her belief that Harris would ultimately assume the presidency if Biden were to win.
President Biden officially withdrew from the presidential race on Sunday and endorsed Kamala Harris as the Democratic candidate. Following Biden's exit, Harris quickly garnered support and emerged as the de facto nominee for the Democratic Party.