Nikki Haley has been out of the presidential race for six months. During and after her campaign, she was subjected to intense threats of violence which, as it turns out, were not significant enough to get her federal protection.
The former South Carolina governor and ambassador to the United Nations reportedly does not have government-sponsored security even though she has faced threats from foreign adversaries for years. The most recent incident, revealed on Thursday September 5, shows that she was even the named target in an Iranian plot while she was running for office.
One source revealed that Haley was on the country’s “kill list” in the past thanks to her work for the United Nations. While this information was shared with her back in 2021, the former governor said during a September 8 interview that she was also told earlier this year by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that Iran’s government was targeting her presidential campaign.
The “murder-for-hire” scheme orchestrated by Tehran was apparently upended in July, after the former candidate suspended her campaign. Haley explained that she was involved in an FBI hearing intended to inform her about the Iranian plans to “influence the election” with the intent of “hurt[ing] me.”
The plot reportedly “named” Haley as its target. She was subjected to such threats even before she suspended her presidential bid in early March, leaving the former president as the presumptive GOP nominee. One source said that Haley requested federal protection in January 2024, amid rising threats.
Some incidents her campaign experienced included someone attempting to get into the candidate’s car—the same person kept popping up at other rallies—and anti-Israel demonstrators sparked greater safety concerns. Haley’s home in South Carolina has also been targeted and she has even received death threats.
On February 16, Haley was informed by the Candidate Protection Advisory Committee that she was to receive a protective detail. This decision—made three days after her campaign was told it was under consideration—ultimately left the final approval to Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). However, Haley reportedly never received a response from the official before she ended her campaign weeks later.
