Rumours are amid that the two-term governor of South Carolina, Indian-American Nikki Haley will meet US President-elect Donald Trump, amid reports that she is being considered for a Cabinet position, particularly for the high-profile post of Secretary of State. The transition team’s spokesman Sean Spicer has listed 44-year-old Haley as one of the candidates that Trump will be meeting.
Daughter of Sikh immigrants from Amritsar, her full name is Nimrata Nikki Randhwa Haley.
“It would be like how Mr Trump is bringing fresh eyes to running our government,” South Carolina Lt Governor Henry McMaster said.
McMaster had earlier said to a local South Carolina daily that the first women governor of the State, who is also the first Indian-American woman governor, is being considered for various Cabinet position, including the Secretary of State.
“Secretary of State is going to be a bit of a stretch for Haley’s area of expertise. Haley has yet to be vetted about foreign policy, trade and protectionism,” said College of Charleston political scientist Kendra Stewart.
The Trump transition team has not given any indication on whom all will be filling the various Cabinet positions. The President-elect himself has tweeted that he only knows the final list.
“During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country,” Haley said earlier in 2016 from the governor’s residence in Columbia.
Trump hit back at the South Carolina governor and said that she was being “weak” on immigration. “She’s very weak on illegal immigration. I feel very strongly about immigration. She doesn’t,” he said.
By Premji
