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Nikki Haley’s shock resignation prompts various theories
Journalists and pundits have reacted with shock to the unexpected resignation of US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley — and speculation abounds as to the reason for the abrupt departure.
US President Donald Trump accepted Haley’s resignation as UN ambassador during an oval office meeting on Tuesday morning, with Haley having reportedly discussed stepping down with Trump last week.
Nikki Haley’s news caught everyone off guard—from Chief of Staff John Kelly to Vice President Pence, I’m told.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 9, 2018
The Nikki Haley news really breaks up the monotony of the news cycle. It’s been awhile since there’s been a surprising headline.
— Sopan Deb (@SopanDeb) October 9, 2018
If you had Nikki Haley unexpectedly resigning on your Bingo sheet, come on down and accept your prize!
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) October 9, 2018
Immediately after she resigned, Twitter lit up with theories and opinions about the reason, with many suggesting Haley could be the Trump administration official behind a highly critical anonymous op-ed published by the New York Times last month.
So I guess Nikki Haley wrote the letter to the NYT.
— Adam Parkhomenko (@AdamParkhomenko) October 9, 2018
Interesting speculation I’ve heard about Nikki Haley: She wrote the Times op-ed and was fired. Purely speculation, but entertaining palace intrigue
— Evan Siegfried (@evansiegfried) October 9, 2018
U.S. ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, one of Trump's sternest defenders on the international stage, has resigned... Anything to do with the anonymous op-ed in the NYT?
— Luke Baker (@BakerLuke) October 9, 2018
Others pundits and Twitter politicos saw the sudden resignation as a sign that the former Governor of South Carolina was planning to run against Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
Nikki Haley? 2020?
A deal? Trump quits and she steps in? Crazy tweets? I'm so lost.
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) October 9, 2018
But the seemingly cordial departure hinted that this may not be the case — and Haley herself soon poured cold water on the idea, saying she would not run in 2020 and would campaign for Trump instead.
That, in turn, prompted speculation that maybe Haley was angling after the vice president job instead.
my hot take is that he'll drop Pence as VP and put in Haley
— Michael Whitney (@michaelwhitney) October 9, 2018
Nikki Haley will run as Trump’s VP in 2020 setting up a scenario that could put a female republican in the WH in 2024
— Andrewok (@Pilarcik) October 9, 2018
I think Nikki Haley has eyes on VP in 2020. She knows Trump is going to struggle with women and she thinks she’ll be able to help him win them over. Then she can run for POTUS later with an even better resume. She’s young.
— Courtney Hulse (@theincrdblhulse) October 9, 2018
Twitter also reacted to a New York Times article on Haley’s resignation which described her as a “moderate” Republican, with many of her critics astounded that the paper would choose to label her that way, given her apparent loyalty to Trump and conservatives.
It is really dangerous for the @nytimes to be calling Haley "moderate."
Not just because it whitewashes her far-right record, but because it helps Trump loyalists redefine "moderate <-> conservative" as a spectrum of loyalty to Trump, rather than actual ideological principles. https://t.co/p4hzNagbzZ
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) October 9, 2018
Stop calling Nikki Haley a moderate Republican. A moderate would not work for the Trump administration or accept his endorsement.
— Robbie Sherwood (@RobbieSherwood) October 9, 2018
MODERATE? Haley spent every minute of her time at the UN threatening innocent nations w/ war, terror and literally bullying and trying to blackmail (and miserably failing) the entire
