Rena Haley Biography
Rena Haley is an American registered nurse and former cheerleader known as the Republican presidential candidate and politician Nikki Haley.
Rena Haley Career
Haley, Nikki Haley’s daughter, attended River Bluff High School where she was actively involved as a cheerleader. She is frequently expressing her passion for cheerleading on her Instagram page. After high school, she continued her education at Clemson University, her parents’ alma mater. Later on, she pursued a career in pediatric nursing, documenting her journey on her Instagram page. In 2021, she achieved her bachelor’s degree in nursing after successfully passing her board exams and becoming a registered nurse. Her commitment to community service is evident in her Instagram posts, where she shared her experience of providing medical assistance in Costa Rica. She expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve local communities and emphasized the impact each patient had on her.
Whereas, in November 23, 2016, then-President-elect Donald Trump nominated Nikki Haley, Haley’s mother, for the position of ambassador to the United Nations. Upon taking office on January 20, 2017, Trump sent her nomination to the United States Senate. Two days later, she was confirmed with a 96–4 vote. The four senators who voted against her were Bernie Sanders, Martin Heinrich, Tom Udall, and Chris Coons. Following her confirmation, she resigned as South Carolina governor, and Lt. Governor Henry McMaster assumed the governorship. Nikki was sworn in by Vice President Mike Pence on January 25, 2017, and she met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on January 27, 2017. She replaced Ambassador Samantha Power. In July 2022, Nikki Haley hinted at a potential run for the 2024 U.S. presidential election during a summit in Washington, D.C.
On February 14, 2023, she officially announced her candidacy, becoming the second major candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination after Donald Trump. Her candidacy marked her as the fifth woman and the first woman of color to be a major candidate for the Republican presidential nomination. As of late October 2023, she was polling at around 8.3% in national Republican primary opinion polls, trailing behind Trump and Ron DeSantis. Haley received endorsements from U.S. representatives Ralph Norman and Will Hurd, as well as Cindy Warmbier, the mother of Otto Warmbier. In November 2023, she earned an endorsement from Americans for Prosperity Action, an organization associated with the Koch network. By early January 2024, CNN reported that Nikki had polled within single digits of Donald Trump (32% to Trump’s 39%) in New Hampshire.
On January 15, 2024, she finished in third place in the Iowa caucuses with 19% of the vote, with Trump receiving 51% and DeSantis 21%. On January 19, Senator Tim Scott endorsed Trump for president over Haley.
Nomination and confirmation as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations (2017–2018)
Nikki Haley’s political career continued with her bid for the Republican nomination for the governorship of South Carolina in the 2010 election. She announced her candidacy on May 14, 2009, and received encouragement from the incumbent governor, Mark Sanford. Notably, she secured endorsements from figures like former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, Jenny Sanford (the first lady of South Carolina), and former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin. The Republican gubernatorial primary took place on June 8, 2010. Despite initially receiving 49% of the vote, Haley faced a runoff election on June 22, which she won with a decisive 65 to 35 percent margin. Subsequently, she went on to win the general election on November 2, 2010, defeating Democratic candidate Vincent Sheheen with 51% of the vote against Sheheen’s 47%. Her election marked her as the third non-white governor elected by a Southern state.
In her role as governor, Haley focused on education reform and economic development. She sought a second term and faced challenges in the Republican primary in 2014. This was initially from Tom Ervin, who later withdrew and ran as an independent. Despite the dynamics of the campaign, she was successfully reelected on November 4, 2014, defeating Vincent Sheheen with a vote share of 55.9% to 41.3%. After her tenure as governor, she assumed the position of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, nominated by then-President-elect Donald Trump in November 2016. Her nomination was submitted to the Senate in January 2017, and she was confirmed with an overwhelming vote of 96–4. She officially resigned as South Carolina governor and took office in her new role, becoming the first Indian American to hold a Cabinet-level position.
2023 Presidential campaign
Haley’s political journey continued as she hinted at a potential run for the presidency in the 2024 U.S. presidential election during a Christians United for Israel summit in July 2022. She officially declared her candidacy on February 14, 2023. This made her the second major candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination after Donald Trump. As the fifth woman and the first woman of color to be a major candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, she faced considerable attention and scrutiny during the race. Throughout the campaign, she emphasized her strong stance on foreign policy, particularly regarding shredding any Iran nuclear deal on her first day in office.
In late October 2023, she polled at approximately 8.3% in national Republican primary opinion polls, trailing behind Trump and Ron DeSantis. She garnered endorsements from notable figures such as U.S. representatives Ralph Norman and Will Hurd, as well as Cindy Warmbier, mother of Otto Warmbier. Additionally, Americans for Prosperity Action, an organization connected to the Koch network, endorsed her in November 2023. In early January 2024, CNN reported that Haley polled within single digits of Trump in New Hampshire. On January 15, 2024, she finished in third place in the Iowa caucuses with 19% of the vote, while Trump received 51% and DeSantis 21%. Notably, she won in Johnson County by one vote. On January 19, U.S. Senator Tim Scott endorsed Trump for president, leading to significant commentary in the press about his decision to endorse Trump over Haley, who had appointed Scott to the Senate.
Rena Haley Salary
Haley earns an annual salary of about $50,000-$110,000.
Rena Haley Net Worth
Haley has an estimated net worth of about $300,000- $900,000 which she has earned through her career as a nurse.
Rena Haley Age
Haley was born on June 8, 1998, in Winchester, United States. She is 26 years old as of 2024, and she celebrates her birthday on the 8th of June every year.
Rena Haley Height and Weight
Haley stands at a height of 5 feet 6 inches tall, and she weighs 125 lbs (75kgs).
Rena Haley Family
Haley is the first child of Nikki and Michael Haley, an officer in the South Carolina Army National Guard. She also has a younger brother called Nalin Haley, a student at Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Her maternal grandfather, Ajit Singh Randhawa, served as a professor at Punjab Agricultural University. Meanwhile, Raj Kaur Randhawa, her maternal grandmother, obtained her law degree from the University of Delhi. Additionally, she has uncles and aunts among them; Mitti, Charan, Simran and Lee Anne.
Rena Haley Husband and Children
Haley is married to Joshua Jackson, a former Clemson University football player who she met in 2018. They got engaged in July 2022 after dating for three and a half years. They tied the knot on April 15, 2023, at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, just off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina. She resides in Greenville, Carolina together with her family.
Ramaswamy’s comment On Rena Haley TikTok
Haley gained attention during the third 2024 Republican Party presidential primary debate on November 9. The emotionally charged moment occurred when a fellow candidate, Ramaswamy, criticized Nikki for her stance on banning TikTok in the US over national security concerns. He pointed out that Nikki’s own daughter was using the platform. Ramaswamy commented on Haley’s TikTok use, stating, “She made fun of me for joining TikTok while her own daughter was actually using the app for a long time. So you might want to take care of your family first before preaching to anyone else.” In response, Nikki fiercely defended her daughter, urging Ramaswamy to “leave my daughter out of your voice” and later calling him “scum” for bringing her daughter into the debate.
This incident has sparked widespread criticism, with debates over the appropriateness of bringing personal matters into political debates and varying opinions on Nikki’s response to the comments. Consequently, she gained attention during the 2024 Republican Party presidential primary debate on November 9, when she defended her mother against criticism from Vivek Ramaswamy, another candidate, regarding Nikki Haley’s stance on TikTok.
Nikki Haley Books
Haley’s literary works provide valuable insights into her background, identity, political journey, and associations with Donald Trump. In her first book, “Can’t Is Not an Option” (Sentinel, 2012), she shares the story of her upbringing in Bamberg, S.C., as a part of the only Indian American family in town. The book chronicles her political rise from a relatively unknown state lawmaker to becoming South Carolina’s governor. Which marked a historic moment as the first woman and person of color to hold the position. Her second book, “With All Due Respect” (St. Martin’s Press), published in 2019 after her tenure as the ambassador to the United Nations in Donald J. Trump’s administration, explores her transition from governor to diplomat.
The 272-page memoir, released amidst the media attention surrounding Trump’s first impeachment, reflects her alignment with White House perspectives and her defense of Trump’s character. In her 2022 collection of essays, “If You Want Something Done” (St. Martin’s Press), titled after a Margaret Thatcher quote frequently used by Haley in national debates, she delves into the lives of pioneering women, providing a broader perspective on various issues. Collectively, these writings offer readers a multifaceted view of Haley’s personal and political journey. “If You Want Something Done,” Haley’s 2022 collection of essays, stands as an inspirational tribute to women who overcame obstacles and opposition to achieve their goals, including Haley herself.
The book celebrates the stories of ten remarkable women, spanning from well-known figures like Margaret Thatcher and Golda Meir to lesser-known but influential leaders like Jeane Kirkpatrick, Cindy Warmbier, Virginia Walden Ford, and Claudette Colvin. The narrative is intertwined with anecdotes from her own childhood and political career, creating a personal and compelling account. “If You Want Something Done” aims to inspire the next generation of leaders by showcasing the strength and determination of women who have made a significant impact throughout history.
Social Media Platform
Haley is very active on her Twitter and Instagram pages. She has 1.4k followers on Twitter and 13k followers on Instagram.