Nikki Haley (born Nimrata Randhawa on January 20, 1972) is an American politician who served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2018. She was also the first female Governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017.
Haley was born in Bamberg, South Carolina to Sikh Indian American immigrant parents. She helped with bookkeeping in her family's clothing business from a young age, learning important business and finance skills. Haley studied accounting at Clemson University and worked at her mother's upscale clothing firm Exotica International before becoming involved in politics.
In 2004, Haley ran for the South Carolina House of Representatives as a Republican. She defeated the longest-serving lawmaker in a major upset. As a state legislator, Haley was known for her fiscal conservatism and efforts to require greater transparency in state government finances. She became the first Indian American in U.S. history and the second Indian American in history to hold a gubernatorial position when she was elected Governor of South Carolina in 2010.
As governor, Haley implemented transparency and accountability reforms, facilitated the removal of the Confederate flag from statehouse grounds, oversaw economic development, and provided leadership through traumatic events like the 2015 Charleston church shooting. She gained national attention for opposing Obamacare and refugee resettlement programs on economic and security grounds - consistent with her platform of conservative governance and protection of South Carolina interests.
Haley's rising political stardom as governor, communication skills, and track record of diplomacy led to President Donald Trump appointing her U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations in his cabinet. At the UN from 2017-2018, she advanced Trump's foreign policy agenda on issues like North Korea sanctions, Israeli policy, Russian aggression, and aid reform. However, she did differ from the President by strongly advocating for women who face sexual harassment and assault.
Since resigning as UN Ambassador, Haley has returned to private enterprise while also campaigning for Republican political causes and candidates. Her name continues to circulate as a potential future Presidential candidate given her centrist messaging and ability to connect with diverse constituencies. Regardless of her next steps, Nikki Haley has already cemented an iconic and groundbreaking legacy as an Indian American and woman leading high-profile public service from South Carolina to the global stage. And of course, now she is running to be the Republican nominee for the 2024 presidential election. She is currently running a distant 2nd behind Donald Trump. Thanks for listening to Quit Please. Remember to like and share wherever you get your podcasts.