Nikki Haley, the Indian-American governor of South Carolina, is being considered as one of the top candidates for the position of United States' Secretary of State in President-elect Donald Trump's cabinet, according to reports.
Haley had backed Florida Senator Marco Rubio in the primaries, who was running for the US presidency this year. However, she later came out in support for Trump ahead of the elections and said that she would be voting for him in New York. Haley has been called one of the rising stars of the Republican Party in recent years.
Trump's transition team spokesperson Sean Spicer, in a conference call to reporters last night, said that Haley is one of the candidates the president-elect would be meeting on Thursday.
Haley had seemed to negate Trump's campaign rhetoric earlier this year, asking people to "resist the temptation" after "siren call of the angriest voices." She is also pro-immigrant as she rubbished the anti-immigrant ideologies, stating "no one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country." Daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley is expected to bring racial and gender diversity in Trump's cabinet, if appointed.
Besides Haley, here are the other candidates who are being considered for the top position:
Rudy Giuliani
Rudy Giuliani, former New York mayor, is being considered the leading candidate for the position of the post of Secretary of State for President-elect Donald Trump's team. Giuliani has been an ardent supporter of Trump from the beginning of his election campaign and is considered one of his most high-profile backers. Trump and Giuliani have been friends for many years and the former mayor has defended the billionaire in all his controversies.
Giuliani was the New York mayor during the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and led the city through the crisis at the time while working closely with then-President George W. Bush. Giuliani has also been critical of Trump's election opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.
John Bolton
John Bolton, the US ambassador to the United Nations under former President George W. Bush, is also being considered for the top position, according to Reuters. Bolton, who began his career as a lawyer, was also under secretary of state for arms control and international security. He has reportedly provided foreign policy advice to many Republican presidential candidates and had called for the United States to bomb Iran last year.
Bolton is currently a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank in Washington DC where he researches foreign and national security policy. He is also a senior adviser for Freedom Capital Investment Management.
Bob Corker
United States Senator from Tennessee, Bob Corker, is also in the run for the top position as he confirmed to CNBC that he has had conversations with Trump's transition team. Corker has been a senator since 2007 and is the current chairperson for the Foreign Relations Committee. Trump and Corker appear to differ in views on Russian President Vladimir Putin. While he appreciated Trump and Putin starting out on a positive note, Corker thinks Putin is a "brutal dictator-like leader" and has "worked against our national interests." Corker, however, has said that he does not expect to get the coveted position.
Newt Gingrich
One of the top surrogates of Trump during the presidential campaign and former House speaker Newt Gingrich is also one of the candidates being considered for the post of Secretary of State. Trump had said before the election that Gingrich will be given a role in his administration if the billionaire won the election. Gingrich ran for the presidential elections in the year 2012 but did not get the Republican Party's nomination. His ideologies are said to be similar to Trump's.
