Nikki Haley plans to challenge Trump with 2024 White House bid

WASHINGTON Ms Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and Mr Donald Trumps ambassador to the United Nations, plans to announce that she is running for president.

She would become the first Republican to officially challenge her former boss for the 2024 GOP nomination.

Ms Haley is preparing to declare her candidacy in Charleston, South Carolina, on Feb 15, according to a person familiar with the plans.

That sets her on a collision course with Mr Trump, who announced a comeback campaign in November and who just visited South Carolina this past weekend.

The daughter of Indian immigrant parents has long indicated that she harbours presidential aspirations.

But her candidacy is also a glaring sign of Mr Trumps waning grip on the party.

In April 2021, Ms Haley said that she would not run if Mr Trump did.

In an interview with South Carolinas WIS-TV on Saturday, Mr Trump pointed out her assertion she would not run if he became a candidate and said that he had recently spoken with her because she wanted his opinion.

He added that he told her if your heart wants to do it, you have to go do it.

The Post and Courier of Charleston earlier reported Ms Haleys plan to announce her candidacy. BLOOMBERG More On This Topic Donald Trump announces 2024 run for US president, jumping ahead of rivals Kanye West running for US presidency in 2024, with alt-right figure working on his campaign