Haley stepping down as U.S. ambassador to UN
WASHINGTON — American United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley will resign this year in the latest shake-up to U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration, the announcement Tuesday raising questions in the White House about the timing and Haley’s possible political future.
The news blindsided many congressional Republicans involved in foreign policy matters and some key U.S. allies.
It means the departure of one of the administration’s highestprofile women and a top official who has offered different perspectives on world events from her more isolationist-minded boss.
Haley, who is not personally wealthy, hinted in her resignation letter to Trump that she is headed to the private sector.
“I have given everything I’ve got these last eight years,” she said, referring to her six years as South Carolina governor as well as her time at the UN. “And I do think it’s good to rotate in other people who can put that same energy and power into it.”
There has been speculation that Haley, the former governor of South Carolina, will return to government or politics at some point.
“No, I’m not running in 2020” for president, she joked, quickly adding that she would be supporting Trump.
Haley has two children to put through college and the potential to make much more money in the business world.
The decision to announce the latest shake-up came less than a month before the congressional elections, even as the White House has made a concerted effort to hold off on major changes — at the Justice Department and elsewhere — before then.
Trump was asked why the announcement was made now since Haley is staying until the end of the year.
Instead of answering directly, he recounted how she has had to work on tough issues, such as Iran and North Korea.
White House officials had sought to put a hold on recordsetting administration turnover in the run-up to the Nov. 6 elections, with aides being asked months ago to step down or commit to stay through Election Day to avoid adding to a sense of turmoil.
Still, the prospect of post midterm changes has loomed over the West Wing, and Haley’s exit was one of those discussed, according to a senior administration official not authorized to publicly discuss private conversations.
Trump said Haley first discussed leaving the administration with him six months ago.
The official noted that their conversation coincided with the appointment of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state and John Bolton as national security adviser. Haley had expressed some frustration that her voice had been diminished as the two men became the aggressive new faces of Trump’s foreign policy, the official said.
More recently, there was an awkward moment at the UN, when Trump’s boasting of American economic strength under his leadership drew laughter at a General Assembly session. He insisted later that the delegates were laughing with him, not at him.
The six-month timeline also coincides with a high-profile spat between Haley and the White House in April, when she drew the president’s ire for previewing in a television appearance the administration’s planned imposition of a new round of sanctions on Russia. When the sanctions never materialized, White House officials said the plans had changed without Haley being briefed, and top economic adviser Larry Kudlow suggested Haley was confused.
“I don’t get confused,” Haley said in a sharply worded rejoinder to the West Wing.