Nikki Haley: US ‘is not a racist country’

Washington DC: Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley declared on Monday that the United States “is not a racist country,” pointing to her own experiences — as the daughter of immigrants and as the first non-white governor of South Carolina — as an example of “hope.”

Haley’s remarks at the Republican National Convention came amid a national reckoning over systemic racial inequality and injustice, a topic that has featured heavily in the presidential race between President Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden. They also came amid new protests in Kenosha, Wis. following the police shooting of a Black man as he tried to enter his car on Sunday.

“In much of the Democratic Party, it’s now fashionable to say that America is racist. That is a lie. America is not a racist country,” Haley said. “This is personal for me. I am the proud daughter of Indian immigrants.”

The former Trump administration envoy to the U.N. recalled how her parents settled in a “small southern town” and built a life for themselves despite facing “discrimination and hardship.”

“My mom built a successful business. My dad taught 30 years at a historically Black college. And the people of South Carolina chose me as their first minority and first female governor,” Haley said. “America is a story that’s a work in progress. Now is the time to build on that progress and make America even freer, fairer and better for everyone.”

At times, Haley, who is seen as a potential candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, sought to boost President Trump, echoing many of the convention’s featured speakers in praising him for his economic stewardship and leadership, while sharply criticizing Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as too liberal.

But her speech, at times, struck a more conciliatory tone.

At one point she recalled the decision during her tenure as South Carolina governor to remove the Confederate flag from the state’s Capitol in the wake of a deadly mass shooting by a white supremacist at a church in Charleston, calling the flag “a divisive symbol” that was taken down “peacefully and respectfully.”

“What happened then should give us hope now. America isn’t perfect. But the principles we hold dear are perfect. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that even on our worst day, we are blessed to live in America.”

 A day after her well received speech, Haley told Fox News that she is open to joining the Trump administration if the President is reelected. She also said it’s “too soon to tell” if she’ll choose to run for the nation’s highest office in 2024.

Haley told Fox Business’ “Mornings with Maria” she has not spoken with the president about taking another post in his administration.

“Right now, we want to see the President and Vice President Pence get over the finish line in November,” Haley said. “I think that’s what’s most important. But certainly any chance there is to serve our country, I want to do it.”

Referring to a push from some pundits for President Trump to abandon  Mike Pence as his running mate and choose Haley instead, she said, “All that nonsense about me and Pence, he’s a dear friend, he’s done a great job. He’s been loyal to the president, and the American people should be very proud.”

Image courtesy of (Photo courtesy The National Interest)

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