United States President Donald Trump announced that United Nations Ambassador, Nikki Haley, will be stepping down at the end of the year.
Trump and Haley held a press conference during which the US envoy to the UN announced that she would be leaving her position at the end of the year.
Trump praised Haley’s work, saying, “She’s done a fantastic job, and we’ve done a fantastic job together. We have solved a lot of problems,” adding that she has been “very special” to him.
Trump mentioned that Haley told him six months ago, that she would “like to take some time off.”
“We’re all happy for you, in one way, but we hate to lose you. Hopefully, you’ll be coming back at some point. Maybe in a different capacity. You can have your pick,” Trump said.
Haley was appointed to the UN position in November of 2016 and, last month, coordinated Trump’s second trip to the UN, including his first time chairing the UN Security Council. Prior to her being named by Trump to her UN post, Haley was governor of South Carolina, the first woman to hold the post.
In Haley’s resignation letter, she also praised Trump for keeping a commitment to her that she would “be free to speak [her] mind on the issues of the day.”
In the letter, she listed a series of successes at the UN, including speaking out resolutely against dictatorships in Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba and Russia.
Haley added that her resignation would be effective in January 2019, in order to give Trump enough time to select a replacement, and to give the Senate time to consider his selection.
According to reports, Trump along with Haley, will decide in two to three weeks on the replacement of the US envoy to the UN.
Among those considered for the position is Egyptian-born former deputy national security adviser Dina Powell.
Additionally, Trump said that his daughter, Ivanka Trump, “would be incredible, but that doesn’t mean I’d pick her because you’d be accused of nepotism, even though I’m not sure there is anybody more competent in the world.”
However, Ivanka posted a tweet on her Twitter account and denied speculation: “It is an honor to serve in the White House alongside so many great colleagues and I know that the president will nominate a formidable replacement for Ambassador Haley. That replacement will not be me.”
Haley stressed, “I expect to continue to speak out from time to time on important public policy matter, but I will surely not be a candidate for any office in 2020.”
She said, “There’s no personal reason, but I think it’s just very important for us to understand when it’s time to step aside,” noting that she had served two intense jobs back to back for the last eight years.
