U.S. Presidential Elections – Trump Appoints Nikki Haley as UN Ambassador
File photo taken on Oct. 19, 2016, shows Donald Trump during the final presidential debate at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). Former real estate mogul Donald Trump has been elected the 45th president of the United States after a close race against Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23 (Xinhua) — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he has selected South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley—once a vocal critic of his—as his nominee for U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
“Governor Haley has a proven record of uniting people across party lines and backgrounds to drive important policies that benefit both her state and our country,” Trump said in a statement.
“She is also an experienced dealmaker, and we expect to be making many deals. She will be an excellent representative for the United States on the world stage,” he added.
Trump confirmed that the position will carry Cabinet-level status and that Haley has accepted the nomination.
Haley previously endorsed Senator Marco Rubio during the Republican primaries and was an outspoken critic of Trump in the early stages of his campaign. She frequently challenged his hardline stance on immigration and criticized him for not releasing his tax returns.
It wasn’t until late October that Haley stated she would vote for Trump, despite having concerns about his character.
Born in 1972 to Indian immigrant parents in South Carolina, Haley made history as the first woman and first person of color to serve as governor of South Carolina. She is also currently the youngest sitting governor in the United States.
According to The Post and Courier, a local South Carolina newspaper, Haley had limited foreign policy experience prior to her nomination to one of the nation’s top diplomatic posts.