Haley says if elected she would offer pardons to Trump

GOP presidential hopeful Nikki Haley said on Thursday that she would pardon former President Donald Trump if she is elected and he is convicted, saying that it is "in the best interest of the country."

"I would pardon Trump," Haley reportedly said during a campaign event, according to a video filmed by NBC News, as The Hill reported.

Haley noted that she will always prioritize the country's best interests.

Haley's Comments

“If he is found guilty, a leader needs to think about what’s in the best interest of the country,” Haley said.

“What’s in the best interest of the country is not to have an 80-year-old man sitting in jail, that continues to divide our country," she added.

"What’s in the best interest of the country would be to pardon him, so that we can move on as a country and no longer talk about him,” Haley went on..

The candidate formerly served as Trump's ambassador to the United Nations, and up until her recent campaign, she has had a largely amicable relationship with the polarizing political figure.

National Polling

While Haley's support has grown, the Republican field is still more than 50 points behind former President Trump.

Trump gets 63.1% support, Haley 10.8%, and Florida governor Ron DeSantis 10.6%, according to the countrywide polling average of GOP primary polls released by Decision Desk HQ/The Hill.

This is the case despite the fact that in four distinct criminal prosecutions, Trump is facing a grand total of 91 criminal counts.

Special Counsel Jack Smith, for his part, brought two federal indictments against President Trump.

One claims that Trump unlawfully sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump allegedly kept classified information at his residence after he left office in contravention of the law, according to the second.

Further charges pertaining to hush money payments made to an adult film star were brought in a New York state case, in addition to other 2020 election-related accusations brought in Fulton, County Georgia.