South Carolina at RNC: Nikki Haley initially not invited to the convention now speaking

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley will speak at this year’s Republican National Convention where former President Donald Trump is expected to officially accept the GOP nomination for the 2024 general election.

Last week, a spokesperson for Haley said she was not invited to the convention, which she was “fine” with, according to USA TODAY.

“Trump deserves the convention he wants. She’s made it clear she’s voting for him and wishes him the best,” Haley spokesperson Chaney Denton said.

Now, after former President Trump’s assassination attempt, Haley is scheduled to speak during the convention on Tuesday.

More: How to livestream the 2024 Republican National Convention? Where to watch in South Carolina

Haley ran for the GOP nomination in 2024 but dropped out in March, angering Trump as he said she stayed in the race longer than he would have liked after she outlasted all other primary competition other than Trump.

Though Haley did not endorse Trump, she said she would be voting for him and had released all 97 delegates she earned earlier this year, urging them to vote for Trump.

Haley served as the ambassador to the United Nations during Trump’s presidency and previously spoke at the 2020 RNC, saying that Trump is “truly fighting for the American people” during her speech.

Haley and Trump have had a complex history. She was a sharp critic of his campaign in 2016 before joining his administration and supported his re-election in 2020. She was also critical of him after the Jan. 6 riots in 2021. In May, she officially said she would be voting for Trump.

After shots were fired at a Trump rally in Butler, Pa. on Saturday, injuring Trump in his right ear and killing one rally attendee, Haley posted to X, formerly known as Twitter, that the shooting “should horrify every freedom-loving American. Violence against presidential candidates must never be normalized. We are lifting up Donald Trump, the entire Trump family, and all in attendance in prayer.”

No reason has been given for why Haley is now on the speaking list.

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott and U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC 1^st District) will also speak.

About 50 South Carolina delegates traveled to Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention, including Gov. Henry McMaster and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette.

“I think our group embodies the spirit of what people call the MAGA movement. We just want to do the right thing and get the country on track and onto the right foot,” Yvonne Julian, Greenville GOP chairwoman and delegate, said.

Savannah Moss covers politics for the Greenville News. Reach her at smoss@gannett.com or follow her on X @Savmoss.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: SC's Nikki Haley to speak at RNC after initially not being invited