With Trump relying on earlier 2024 contenders, Haley's backing is still uncertain.

Trump relies on prior 2024 contenders, yet Haley's backing remains unobtained.

The presidential hopeful who hasn't yet won Trump's endorsement is Nikki Haley, a former governor of South Carolina and UN ambassador for the US under Trump. After the 2024 Republican primary, she became Trump's remaining opponent. Although their conflicts aren't making headlines anymore, there's no attempt from their sides to resolve the tension.

A friend of Haley told CNN that Trump can reach out and make amends if he wants to gain support from her followers, but they haven't seen any such efforts from the Trump camp. The same view was shared by three sources connected to the Trump campaign who confirmed no attempt has been made to engage Haley.

On the other hand, other former rivals of Trump, including Sen. Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, have joined forces with him after ending their campaigns. They've even been considered as potential running mates. Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who also hadn't spoken since his White House bid ended, have patched things up. Now, DeSantis will help fundraise for the Republican ticket.

Trump's rift with Haley began when both sides escalated their attacks during the primary race. Haley was initially cautious with her criticism, but as the race progressed, she became more vocal, emphasizing the need for a different leader. Trump, in turn, grew increasingly personal with his attacks. When Trump said, "Where's her husband? Oh, he's away" during a rally in South Carolina, Haley called the comment "disgusting," as her husband was deployed in Africa at the time.

Despite not endorsing Trump, Haley didn't rule out supporting him if he earned those votes. However, there's no evidence of him making such an effort.

Although Trump has comfortably won Republican primary contests during the winter and spring, Haley's supporters have consistently earned a significant percentage of votes. One Republican operative even voiced concerns that Trump isn't reaching out to Haley's voters, which could cost him a critical state like Pennsylvania.

However, Trump's MAGA base and Haley's coalition of suburban and college-educated voters are two separate factions. The Biden camp is trying to capitalize on this divide, targeting Haley supporters with digital ads asking them to join forces to defeat Trump. The Biden campaign will focus on Haley's voters in critical areas like the Philadelphia suburbs.

"At the Biden campaign, we will earn their vote," spokesman James Singer said. "As President Biden said, Democrats and Republicans and Independents may disagree on many issues and hold strong convictions, but what unites Democrats and Republicans and Independents is a love for America."

While other 2024 contenders like Chris Christie and Mike Pence have declined to endorse Trump, their impact on the Republican vote was relatively minimal. Haley, on the other hand, is a significant player, having earned 97 delegates and won the Vermont and Washington, DC primaries.

Haley hasn't talked to Trump since ending her campaign on March 6. She congratulated him publicly and wished him well, but no communication has passed between them. "It's kind of where we left things in March," said a Haley associate. "They haven't reached out, and we haven't reached out."

A tale of double standards

Trump and Haley's relationship indicates a divide between central Republicans who rallied behind him during the primaries and those who backed her. Trump has seen no issue in embracing his former competitors like Sen. Tim Scott, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, and North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, inviting them to become part of his campaign. But he hasn't made any attempt to connect with Haley, who won 97 delegates and two primaries during the race.

Trump and Haley's rivalry escalated during the primary's last stages when they exchanged jabs. Even when Haley dropped out, she didn't endorse Trump; she said he had to "earn the votes of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him. And I hope he does that." However, she emphasized her respect for Trump's achievement in securing his place in the Republican nomination.

Trump has managed to win most of the Republican primary contests, including in Pennsylvania with nearly 17% of the vote. Yet, Haley continues to earn a significant share of the votes across the country.

The Biden campaign is taking advantage of this situation, trying to win over Haley's supporters, particularly in the Philadelphia suburbs. Among the Republicans in Pennsylvania, over a quarter of voters supported Haley, indicating a considerable group willing to consider alternatives to Trump.

While Trump has welcomed other former rivals, he's yet to reach out to Haley. "He knows how to reach her," said a Haley associate, "if he wants to make amends and try to start winning over her supporters."

Trump's previous attacks on her, including a dig at her husband's absence, must have left a lasting impact. But the former governor and her husband have spent quality time together since he returned from his deployment in Africa.

A longtime friend of Haley's emphasized that she's been focusing on family life. "She's receded from public view," the friend said. "I suspect she's waiting for Trump's campaign to reach out to her."

Time will tell how Trump chooses to continue his campaign, whether by engaging with Ms. Haley or ignoring her. The stakes are high as November approaches.

If Haley sends an envoy to converse, Trump will probably say yes, shared someone close to Trump.

Her consultants also agree that Haley, an accomplished fundraiser during her presidential campaign, appeals to several independent voters who are essential for Trump's success.

However, they demand that Haley initiates the conversation.

"Once you lose a battle or a war, you usually reach out to make peace, and that's how campaigns operate," the Trump adviser said.

A Miami Ceasefire

A comparable standstill between Trump and DeSantis concluded last weekend in Miami during brunch. The truce, arranged at DeSantis' request by Trump's long-time ally and luxury real estate developer Steve Witkoff, happened three months after DeSantis stopped campaigning and endorsed Trump. During that period, DeSantis did not ring Trump to officially express his backing, and he annoyed Trump's team with his early initiatives to restore his political prospects.

Trump described the meeting with DeSantis as "great," posting on social media, "The conversation mainly focused on how we could collaborate to return America to its former glory."

Although DeSantis previously mocked Trump for guiding funds towards his legal costs, the Florida governor agreed to support Trump in raising money to recapture the White House. People around Trump predict that DeSantis could spur his donors who stayed in the background to participate and existing donors to pitch in more.

"There are some who still have high expectations for DeSantis' future, and they may not have come to us with the enthusiasm and resources that haven't been fully harnessed or utilized," the Trump adviser said.

The level of DeSantis' involvement, however, remains uncertain. DeSantis isn't planned to attend the Trump-Republican National Committee joint fundraising committee's events this weekend, although it will be in Palm Beach. DeSantis might encounter Trump at the nearby Formula One Miami Grand Prix, a source near the Florida governor revealed.

Meanwhile, DeSantis intends to establish a state fundraising committee in Florida to re-engage donors and ask for contributions for his personal interests, a person with awareness of the plans said, referring to it as "imminent." The governor remains dedicated, too, to defeating two state constitutional amendments on the ballot this fall in Florida – one securing abortion access till fetal viability and one legalizing recreational cannabis.

The person said DeSantis' support for Trump was "sincere," but added that no one in the governor's team knows how that would manifest. DeSantis in March claimed he was open to "assisting nationally," but anticipated minimal interest in having him campaign for Trump in Florida due to the state's rightward shift.

"Michigan and Wisconsin's independent voters won't vote for Trump because Ron DeSantis campaigned for him there," the person stated.

However, Haley's case is different. She earned the support of nearly 27% of Michigan GOP primary voters and procured four of the state's delegates. Additionally, she managed around 13% of the primary votes in Wisconsin even after she dropped out.

Trump "doesn't need Haley to win," a friend of the former governor said, "but he can't do it without her supporters."