South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley on Friday said she was "thrilled" that Donald Trump won the election, but added it's important that the GOP make the distinction of how the president-elect won the election and how he did not.
"The president-elect deserves tremendous credit for the way he was able to connect with the electorate, but he did not do it by celebrating the Republican Party," Haley said. "And the American people did not vote for him because he had an 'R' next to his name."
Haley made the comments during a speech at the Federalist Society's National Lawyers Convention in Washington, D.C.
"If we as Republicans are going to lead effectively and have staying power as a governing party, we must accept that Donald Trump's election was not an affirmation of the way Republicans have conducted themselves," Haley said.
Haley, who backed Sen. Marco Rubio during the GOP primary, never did endorse Trump for president or attend the convention.
However, she visited Trump on Thursday in New York City and is reportedly a candidate for secretary of state.
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