New York Daily News

I Vanka, but I won’t pick her: Trump

- BY CHRIS SOMMERFELD­T

He wants to keep it in the family.

President Trump revealed Tuesday he may tap daughter Ivanka to replace outgoing United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley — but the Ivanka quickly put those rumors to rest.

“How good would Ivanka be?” Trump told reporters at the White House before departing for a political rally in Iowa. “Ivanka would be dynamite.”

The President admitted the optics wouldn't be great.

“I would be accused of nepotism, could you believe it,” Trump said. “Although I'm not sure there's anyone more competent in the world.” Hours later, Ivanka announced she wouldn't accept an offer even if her father made one.

“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,” the 36-year-old Trump daughter tweeted. “That replacemen­t will not be me.”

Trump really wants to give the job to his daughter, but a person familiar with the matter said people in his inner circle have strongly advised against it since Ivanka would have to go through the Senate confirmati­on process, which includes disclosing financial informatio­n.

“This administra­tion and the family is totally against revealing any financial informatio­n,” the source told the Daily News.

A White House spokeswoma­n did not return a request for comment.

The President confirmed during his South Lawn press gaggle that he's also considerin­g his former deputy national security adviser Dina Powell and Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany, for the top diplomatic post.

“We have many names,” Trump said.

 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States