Who is Micheal Haley? Nikki Haley's husband who changed his name after they started dating

Nikki Haley is an American politician and diplomat who is currently the last woman standing in the race to secure the Republican nomination. She is preparing to face off against ex-president Donald Trump in the South Carolina Republican Primary on 24 February.

In 2012 Haley released a book titled Can't is Not an Option in which she shares an anecdote that made her husband, whom she has been married to since 1996, change his name during the early days of their relationship.

Mr Haley’s curious name change

When she first started dating her South Carolina National Army guard husband, he went by Bill. However, he recalls that his now-wife said to him:

You just don't look like a Bill. What’s your whole name?

To which he replied:

William Micheal

Haley writes in her book:

From that point on, I started calling him Michael and all my friends did the same. Before we knew it, he was universally known as Michael. Everyone who knew him before I did knows him as Bill, and everyone who met him after I did knows him as Michael. He looks like a Michael.

It is a rather interesting and rare occasion for an adult to switch from one name to another at that stage in life.

Who is Micheal Haley?

As previously mentioned he is a South Carolina National Army Guard Captain. Nikki and Micheal met when she was a freshman at Clemson University in 1989. Micheal was deployed to Afghanistan while Nikki was governor of South Carolina. During an appearance in Greer South Carolina, she said about her husband:

He left me as a single mom governor, but we’re still married.

He has reportedly been deployed to Africa for a year with the National Guard, according to the Associated Press. Nikki Haley didn’t directly confirm her husband’s deployment but she stated:

Our family, like every military family, is ready to make personal sacrifices when our loved one answers the call. We could not be prouder of Michael and his military brothers and sisters. Their commitment to protecting our freedom is a reminder of how blessed we are to live in America.

It will soon be revealed if Nikki Haley will be the republican party's choice nomination to face off against President Biden in the general election, but in order reach that milestone she must first defeat her opponent Donald Trump, who is currently in a sticky financial situation, in the upcoming Primary.

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Sources:

Associated Press: Nikki Haley’s husband to deploy with National Guard to Africa as she seeks 2024 GOP nomination

The New York Times: Nikki Haley’s ‘Rock’ Is Watching Her Campaign From a Distance

The New York Times: Not Feeling Your Partner’s Name? Just Change It.

BBC: From Bill to Michael, why Mr Haley switched names