Nikki Haley

Haley states that America has 'never been a racist country', while acknowledging the historical and continuing existence of racism. The phrase prompts criticism highlighting slavery, Jim Crow and institutional discrimination in US history.

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Personally implicated

During the Republican primaries, Haley describes Trump as too chaotic, dangerous and unfit to return to the presidency. After suspending her campaign, she announces in May that she will nevertheless vote for him, then publicly supports him at the July Republican convention.

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During a visit to Israel, Haley writes 'Finish Them!' on an Israeli artillery shell while the war in Gaza has already killed tens of thousands of people and a deadly strike in Rafah has just sparked international outrage. The photograph attracts strong criticism from human rights organisations.

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Personally implicated

Haley had long described the Confederate flag as a matter of heritage and considered that keeping it on State House grounds could be acceptable. Following the racist massacre at Charleston's Emanuel AME church in 2015, she leads calls for its removal. Later, she says the killer had 'hijacked' a symbol some associated with service and sacrifice, renewing the controversy.

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Political responsibility

Haley accepts seven private jet flights offered by South Carolina businesspeople while serving as US Ambassador to the UN. CREW lodges a complaint, arguing that the flights may violate gift rules. Government documents revealed later conclude that the trips created a risk of a perceived conflict of interest.

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Haley calls anonymity on social media a national security threat and proposes that platforms verify each user's identity and display their name. The proposal immediately attracts criticism from conservatives and First Amendment advocates, who invoke the American tradition of anonymous speech.

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Directly implicated

Asked in New Hampshire about the cause of the Civil War, Haley discusses the role of government and individual freedoms without mentioning slavery. The omission sparks national outrage and fuels criticism of her treatment of the South's racial history.

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Personally implicated

After leaving the Trump administration, Haley joins Boeing's board, the company being a major employer in South Carolina, fuelling familiar criticism of revolving-door appointments. In March 2020, she resigns when Boeing requests substantial federal aid during the Covid-19 crisis.

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Direct responsibility

During her 2010 campaign, tax records show that Nikki Haley and her husband repeatedly paid personal taxes late, with some filings made more than fourteen months after the deadline. The family business, Exotica International, had also accumulated tax penalties and liens.

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Haley openly adopts an anti-union stance and promises to keep South Carolina a low-union state. The dispute becomes national when the NLRB accuses Boeing of moving production to South Carolina to punish strikes in Washington state; Haley strongly backs Boeing.

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Political responsibility

A complaint challenges income received before her election as governor, notably from Lexington Medical Center and an engineering company, alleging conflicts with her legislative activities. The South Carolina House Ethics Committee examines the case.

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Directly implicated