In a move aimed at solidifying support for the party's presumptive nominee, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has released the 97 delegates she won during the Republican primaries earlier this year, allowing them to back Donald Trump at the upcoming Republican national convention.

Haley's former campaign confirmed on Tuesday that she has chosen to release the delegates she won across a dozen primaries and caucuses, emphasizing the need for party unity at the convention in Milwaukee. In a statement, Haley declared that Joe Biden, the Democratic president, was not fit to serve a second term, and referred to Vice President Kamala Harris as a potential disaster for America.

Expressing her support for Trump, Haley stressed the importance of having a president who would hold enemies accountable, secure the border, address the nation's debt, and resurrect the economy. She encouraged her delegates to back Trump at the convention.

However, Haley will not be attending the convention in Milwaukee, according to her spokesperson Chaney Denton, who revealed that she was neither invited nor concerned about it. Denton stated that Trump deserved the convention he desired and that Haley had made her support for him clear.

During the primaries, Haley was the last major Republican candidate standing against Trump before ending her campaign after Super Tuesday. At the time, she criticized Trump for causing chaos and disregarding the importance of US alliances abroad. Trump responded by repeatedly mocking her as "Birdbrain," although he tapered off such attacks after securing enough delegates to become the presumptive Republican nominee.

The Trump campaign did not provide an immediate comment on Haley's decision to release her delegates, which was first reported by Politico. Meanwhile, the Biden campaign has been attempting to win over Haley's supporters, whom they consider as true swing voters. In May, Haley announced that she would be casting her vote for Trump and called on the former president to garner support from her backers.

With Haley releasing her delegates and endorsing Trump, the Republican party hopes to further consolidate its backing of the nominee heading into the convention. The event will likely serve as a platform to showcase party unity and rally support behind Trump's bid for a second term in the White House.