Photo: getty
He's in the military.
By Samantha Maffucci — Written on Aug 24, 2020
Nikki Haley will speak at the first night of the 2020 Republican National Convention on August 24, and while we’re most familiar with Nikki Haley as the former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, she’s one of President Trump’s most trusted members in his inner circle. But what you might not know is that Haley once served as the Governor of South Carolina, becoming the first female governor of the state, and is a former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Of course, being in the spotlight has its downsides, especially with people from both sides criticizing her response to North Korea and willingness to use military force in 2017. But despite all that, Haley has a family who doesn’t care about politics.
Who is Nikki Haley's husband, Michael Haley?
How did Nikki Haley and Michael Haley meet?
Michael Haley and Nikki (at that time, known as Nikki Randhawa) met as undergraduates while attending Clemson University in 1989. During governor’s weekend at the University, the couple hit it off! And even though Michael attended and graduated from University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a degree in business administration, while Nikki graduated from Clemson, they stayed together. Awww!
When did Nikki Haley and Michael Haley get married?
Nikki Haley and Michael Haley got married in September of 1996. They had both Sikh and Methodist ceremonies, though Nikki now identifies as a Christian. The second ceremony was held at St. Andrew's by-the-Sea, which is a Methodist church in Hilton Head, SC where his parents have lived since Michael was in the ninth grade.
What does Michael Haley do for a living?
Haley is an officer in the South Carolina National Guard, employed as a federal military technician.
Before getting his job as a military technician, he worked for his mother-in-law, Raj Randhawa. She founded a multi-million dollar clothing store called Exotica International.
How long did Michael Haley serve in Afghanistan?
In January 2012, Haley was sent to Afghanistan to serve in the Helmand Province as part of a “Agribusiness Development Team.” The team helped Afghan farmers improve their techniques and develop cash crops to replace their opium poppies.
The opium they farmed largely benefits the Taliban and al-Qaeda, and using his background in business, he was thought to have helped them find better ways to bring crops to market. He was a liaison between civilian authorities and the military.
Being a military spouse is one of the most difficult things people can experience. According to Nikki, when her husband returned, she was able to take her “first breath in a year.”
The couple told Associated Press that they communicated through email on a daily basis. However, “There's a lot lost in translation. You don't get the emotion, the humor you get in one-on-one communication on the telephone or physically being there…” he said. He then added that hearing about family activities after they happened was comparative to “looking back in the rearview mirror at your life over the past year.”
When Nikki served as the Governor of South Carolina, he became the First Gentleman of South Carolina. He was the first man to hold the position from 2011 to 2017 and was the chairman of a foundation that oversaw preservation and management of the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion.
Who are Nikki Haley and Michael Haley's kids?
The couple have two children, daughter Rena, 22, and son Nalin, 18. Recently, Nikki revealed that she and Michael are now empty nesters, but it looks like this family is still as close-knit as can be.
Samantha Maffucci is an associate editor for YourTango who focuses on writing trending news and entertainment pieces. In her free time, you can find her obsessing about cats, wine, and all things Vanderpump Rules.