President’s choice for UN post drops bid

WASHINGTON – Heather Nauert, President Donald Trump’s pick to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, withdrew her name from consideration on Saturday amid concerns about her qualifications for the highprofile post.

Nauert, a former Fox News host who now serves as the State Department’s spokesperson, cited the strain on her family in announcing her decision.

Critics had sharply questioned Trump’s appointment of Nauert, saying she did not have the foreign policy experience or political skills needed for such a key diplomatic job. Trump’s first U.N. ambassador, ex-south Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, left at the end of last year.

Experts had noted that Nauert would have been one of the most inexperienced U.N. ambassadors in history – at a time of extreme flux in international relations.

Since taking office, Trump has picked major foreign policy fights with key U.S. allies, including Canada and France, while praising authoritarian regimes in Russia, North Korea and Saudi Arabia.