Nikki Haley, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations (U.N.) in Donald Trump‘s first administration, has been mocked online after responding graciously to the president-elect’s decision not to include her in his second administration, with one social media user saying that she “lost her dignity.”
After Trump, the Republican nominee, won Tuesday’s presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee, he began forming his second administration, with his first pick being Susie Wiles for White House chief of staff.
Haley, former South Carolina governor, ran against Trump in the 2024 Republican primary, where things got heated, with Trump calling her “birdbrain” and Haley calling Trump “unhinged.” However, the two seemed to end things amicably.
When Trump broke the news in a Truth Social post Saturday that Haley, along with former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, would not serve under him in the White House again, he said, “I very much enjoyed and appreciated working with them previously, and would like to thank them for their service to our Country.”
In response, Haley wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Saturday that she was “proud” to work with Trump and wished him “and all who serve, great success in moving us forward to a stronger, safer America over the next four years.”
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s communications director, Steven Cheung, via email for comment, Haley’s press team via email and the Hudson Institute via email for comment from Haley, who is the institute’s Walter P. Stern chair, Sunday morning.
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Some on social media called Haley’s dignity into question over her post.
Brian Tyler Cohen, a political commentator on YouTube and MSNBC contributor who is a frequent Trump critic, wrote on X on Sunday, “Jesus Christ @NikkiHaley have an ounce of dignity, please.”
“Kamala Harris lost the election. Nikky Haley lost her dignity,” Ana Navarro-Cárdenas, a Republican strategist against Trump who has appeared on CNN and The View, wrote on X on Sunday.
Representative Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, laughed at Haley’s response to Trump, writing, “LOL” repeatedly in a post on Saturday.
“Oh @NikkiHaley you sold your soul to the devil and he didn’t even want it. Embarrassing,” Maya Contreras, a professional writer who has been critical of Trump, wrote on Saturday.
In reaction to Trump’s post about not inviting Haley to join his second administration, former Illinois congressman and current CNN political commentator Adam Kinzinger, an anti-Trump Republican, wrote: “All that kissing a@@ for nothing.”
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Haley congratulated Trump on his “strong” election win.
“The American people have spoken. Congratulations to President Trump on a strong win. Now, it’s time for the American people to come together, pray for our country, and start the process of a peaceful transition,” she wrote.
