Former GOP presidential contender Nikki Haley shared heartbreaking news: her father passed away on Father’s Day. “This morning, I said goodbye to the smartest, sweetest, kindest, most decent man I have ever known,” Haley wrote on X, alongside a photo from her 2023 campaign launch in South Carolina.
Haley, a former U.N. ambassador and two-term South Carolina governor, didn’t disclose her father’s age or cause of death. However, reports earlier this year revealed he had been battling cancer.
Her father, originally from Punjab, India, moved to Canada for his Ph.D. before relocating to South Carolina in 1969 to teach at Voorhees College. Haley was born three years later.
Haley’s Political Journey and Endorsement of Trump
After exiting the presidential race in March following Super Tuesday losses, Haley eventually endorsed Donald Trump in May. While critical of some of Trump’s policies, she emphasized her opposition to President Joe Biden: “I will be voting for Trump.”
Trump welcomed her endorsement, calling her a “capable person” and suggesting she’d play a role on his team.
Trump’s Fundraising Surge
Following Haley’s endorsement, Trump gained momentum with GOP donors, especially in Silicon Valley—a traditionally Democratic stronghold. A recent $12 million fundraiser in San Francisco, hosted by venture capitalists David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya, showcased growing support for Trump among tech leaders.
Once rare, Silicon Valley’s Trump supporters are now a growing force. “In 2016, I knew one Trump supporter in the Valley,” said former Palantir adviser Jacob Helburg. “Today, I count dozens.”