Nikki Haley of South Carolina will kick off the 2024 presidential campaign by joining Trump in the hunt for candidates

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who served as ambassador to the United Nations during former President Donald Trump’s administration, will join Trump in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

Multiple sources confirmed to Fox News Digital that Haley will formally announce her candidacy for the White House at an event in Charleston, South Carolina on Feb. 15, with her supporters receiving an invitation shortly. The news of Haley’s announcement was first reported by the Post and Courier in South Carolina.

Haley has long been viewed by political pundits as a potential Republican presidential nominee as she has traveled the country through her political group Stand for America for the past two years, helping fellow Republicans compete in the 2022 election. Haley’s travels have repeatedly taken her to Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada, where the first, second, and fourth contests on the Republican presidential nominating calendar are held. Haley’s home state of South Carolina is third on the GOP’s tentative schedule.

Speaking to reporters last year who questioned her about the White House run, Haley reiterated that “after November, we’ll figure it all out. I’ll start now. If there is a place for me, we will give 100% and finish.”

2024 WATCH: TRUMP IS INSIDE – HERE IS WHO ELSE CAN JOIN THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL FIELD

Haley turned up the volume in a speech after the midterms at the Jewish Republican Coalition’s annual leadership meeting, seen as the GOP’s first major presidential appeal in 2024.

WHY THE RACE FOR PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATIONS BEGINS SLOWLY

“A lot of people have been asking if I’m going to run for president,” Hailey said to a crowd of applause at a conference in Las Vegas. “Now that midterms are over, I’ll take this seriously.”

She repeated that she “never lost an election” and that “it’s always fun when I’m underestimated.”

Two weeks ago, Haley further escalated her speech by stating in an interview with Fox News’ Special Report that “I think we need the younger generation to come in and step up and really start making things right… Can I be that leader? “Yes, I think I can be that leader.”

Hailey is the daughter of Indian immigrants who grew up to be the first female governor of South Carolina. She will now become the second prominent Republican to launch the 2024 campaign, following the former president, who announced his candidacy at an event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, in mid-November.

Speaking to reporters aboard his plane on Saturday as he flew from a campaign speech in New Hampshire to a leaders’ meeting in South Carolina, Trump said Hayley called him to discuss running for the White House.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign event at the South Carolina State House on Saturday, January 28, 2023, in Columbia, South Carolina.
(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

“Go with your heart if you want to run,” Trump told Haley. And he said he told her she “should do it.”

But then he appeared to be critical of Haley, noting that she had previously “publicly” said she would not seek the White House in 2024 if Trump ran again.

Haley told The Associated Press in April 2021, “I wouldn’t run if President Trump ran and I would talk to him about it. That’s something we’ll talk about at some point if that decision needs to be made. .”

But later that year, Haley signaled she was open to a possible 2024 presidential run, even if Trump decides to run for the White House again.

Behind the scenes, Hailey has ramped up operations in recent weeks, with new staff heading to South Carolina.

“Nikki Haley has been laying the groundwork for a national launch ever since she joined the UN,” said South Carolina social conservative leader Dave Wilson.

Wilson, president of the Palmetto Family Council, a conservative Christian nonprofit in Colombia, stressed that “with this announcement, Hayley has entered a countdown window. As they say at NASA, “prepare for takeoff.”

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Haley may not be the only Republican from South Carolina to enter the race for the White House. Senator Tim Scott is taking steps that could lead to a presidential campaign.

Other senior Republicans who appear to be preparing to bid include Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and two-term former governors. Larry Hogan from Maryland and Asa Hutchinson from Arkansas. And among those who are considering elections to the White House, there are also governors. Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, Chris Sununu of New Hampshire and Christy Noem of South Dakota, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, and former Representatives Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Will Hurd of Texas.