Trump Taps Gov. Nikki Haley For US Ambassador To UN
WASHINGTON (CBSNewYork/AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump says he intends to nominate Republican Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
The job requires Senate approval. If that happens, Haley would become the first female and first nonwhite Cabinet-level official in his administration. She's the daughter of Indian immigrants and is the second Asian-American to serve as a U.S. governor.
Trump said in a statement that Haley is "a proven dealmaker and we look forward to making plenty of deals.''
"Governor Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our country," said Trump.
He said Haley "will be a great leader representing us on the world stage.''
In a statement, Haley said, "Our country faces enormous challenges here at home and internationally, and I am honored that the president-elect has asked me to join his team and serve the country we love as the next Ambassador to the United Nations."
The story was first reported by The Post and Courier and The Washington Post.
Haley first backed Fla. Sen. Marco Rubio during the Republican primary and was an outspoken Trump critic throughout much of the presidential race.
In March, Trump tweeted, "The people of South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki Haley!"
But despite her misgivings about Trump, she met with the president-elect last week at Trump Tower. Afterward, Haley said they'd had a "very nice'' conversation.
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