Trump Rules Out Haley for Cabinet, But Ramaswamy Could Play a Key Role

NEW YORK: US President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will not be inviting former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley or ex-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join his administration. However, Indian-American businessman Vivek Ramaswamy might be given a significant role.

In a post on Truth Social, a platform Trump uses after being banned from X (formerly Twitter), the President-elect confirmed that neither Haley nor Pompeo would be part of his new administration, currently in formation. He acknowledged their previous service and expressed his gratitude for their contributions to the country.

Despite this, Trump hinted at a potential senior role for Ramaswamy, calling him "very smart" and suggesting he would be involved in a major project. "We can put him in charge of one of these big monsters in government, and he'll do a better job than anybody you can think of," Trump said during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania, although he didn’t specify the position Ramaswamy would take.

Haley, who was the first Indian-American to hold a cabinet post under Trump, served as the US Ambassador to the United Nations. After resigning two years into her term, she started to build her political network beyond South Carolina, where she had been governor. Though she ran for the Republican presidential nomination, Haley's campaign ended with her endorsement of Trump, which reportedly angered him.

Haley had been seen as appealing to moderate Republicans, some of whom had shifted their support to Vice President Kamala Harris. Though she expressed willingness to campaign for Trump, she was notably excluded from his rallies and events. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Haley praised Trump’s policies but criticized his tone and conduct, especially regarding the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.

Meanwhile, Ramaswamy, a pharmaceutical entrepreneur, had run against Trump for the Republican nomination before dropping out and becoming one of his strong supporters. Trump praised Ramaswamy for his quick wit and intelligence, recalling how the entrepreneur stood out in the competition for the nomination.

Ramaswamy notably criticized Haley during a Republican debate for her stance on Ukraine, which has become a point of contention within the party. Some speculated that Ramaswamy might forgo a role in Trump’s administration to focus on running for governor of Ohio in the 2026 election.

As for Pompeo, who had been linked to a possible position in Trump’s cabinet, his failure to gain a post is attributed to his earlier criticism of Trump regarding the handling of classified documents. Despite supporting Trump publicly, Pompeo's loyalty was questioned, especially after his comments on the former president's actions after leaving office.

Trump’s decisions reflect ongoing political dynamics, with Haley and Pompeo holding contrasting views on foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine, while Ramaswamy’s political rise continues to attract attention.

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