Ms Haley’s speech also renewed speculation that she would be a strong pick as a vice-presidential candidate. She told that she hadn’t thought about any of the vice-presidential rumours, but added: “If a candidate wanted to sit down and talk, I would sit down and talk. That’s a big decision. She later said that she considered Mr Trump a friend and urged the billionaire not to take her comments personally and said that she also had concerns about some of his rivals. But Mr Trump would have none of it. “She’s very weak on illegal immigration,” Trump told Fox News making it clear that Ms Haley was unlikely to be his running mate for the presidential election.

“Well, considering I’m leading in the polls by a lot, I wouldn’t say she’s off to a good start” to be his vice presidential candidate, Trump said. “Whoever I pick is also going to be very strong on illegal immigration.” He also suggested that Ms Haley was a hypocrite saying “Over the years, she’s asked me for a hell of a lot of money in campaign contributions.” The reviews were more mixed among other Republican presidential candidates. Former Florida governor Mr Jeb Bush described her speech as “remarkable” for talking about a “broader hopeful, optimistic Republican message.”

Senator Marco Rubio of Florida also said he was “impressed” with Ms Haley. But former HP chief executive Ms Carly Fiorina argued that Americans have a right to be angry about issues such as illegal immigration. Ms Ann Coulter, the conservative commentator, said that Mr Trump should deport Ms Haley even though she was born in the US.