In a recent development, former President Donald Trump has put to rest the speculations surrounding Nikki Haley's potential inclusion as a running mate in his campaign. Trump affirmed that Haley is "not under consideration" for the vice president slot in a post on Truth Social. This announcement comes after Axios reported that Haley was a part of the conversation within the Trump campaign regarding the vice president position.

Although Haley's base of Trump-skeptical voters and wealthy donors could have been advantageous for the Trump campaign, the uneasy relationship between Trump and Haley due to their bitter competition in the Republican primary has effectively ruled out any possibility of them running together. Both have previously stated that they would not be running on the same ticket.

The inclusion of Haley on the shortlist would have helped Trump address his fundraising challenges, exacerbated by legal fees connected to ongoing lawsuits. Moreover, Haley's potential endorsement could have influenced Trump-skeptical Republican voters, a demographic that President Joe Biden's campaign has actively pursued since Haley dropped out of the race. Despite withdrawing from the presidential campaign in March, Haley has continued to garner support, as evidenced by her significant vote share of nearly 22% in Indiana's recent primary.

However, the strained relationship between Trump and Haley became apparent during the Republican primary when Trump criticized Haley's presidential capabilities, stating that she was "not presidential timber" during a rally in New Hampshire earlier this year. Similarly, Haley consistently reiterated her lack of interest in the vice presidential seat while she was campaigning.

As Trump's selection process for a running mate prolongs, attention has been drawn to other potential candidates. House Representative Elise Stefanik, former Republican presidential candidate Senator Tim Scott, Senator Marco Rubio, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum are among the names being considered. South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem was initially seen as a clear frontrunner but has faced criticism due to revelations in her memoir and an unverified story regarding her meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un.

"I don't want to comment on anybody on the list. But she had a rough couple of days. I will say that," Trump said about Noem in a recent interview with Spectrum 1 News Wisconsin.

While the vice presidential hopefuls endeavor to support Trump's campaign, the final decision on the running mate remains to be seen, with Trump appearing to take time to finalize the selection.