A surprise announcement today. Nikki Haley just resigned as the US Ambassador to the UN.
Apparently, Haley discussed her resignation with Trump last week when she visited him at the White House, two sources said. Her news shocked a number of senior foreign policy officials in the Trump administration.
Nikki Haley’s news caught everyone off guard—from Chief of Staff John Kelly to Vice President Pence, I’m told.
— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 9, 2018
It is worth noting that Haley wrote a public op-ed in September challenging the N.Y. Times’ anonymous op-ed, which was written by a “senior administration official” and claimed that Trump aides saw him as a threat to U.S. democracy.
Haley wrote in her response:
- “I don’t agree with the president on everything. When there is disagreement, there is a right way and a wrong way to address it. I pick up the phone and call him or meet with him in person.”
- “Like my colleagues in the Cabinet and on the National Security Council, I have very open access to the president. He does not shut out his advisers, and he does not demand that everyone agree with him. I can talk to him most any time, and I frequently do.”
- “If I disagree with something and believe it is important enough to raise with the president, I do it. And he listens.”
So is that why Haley is leaving? Because she cannot deal with the President anymore?
Maybe, but Haley has also come under some scrutiny for her use of government planes, though the level of accusations there is well below that of many in the Trump cabinet — and certainly nothing so serious that it would seem to call for dislodging someone as popular on the right as Haley.
The timing of the event suggests that Haley’s resignation could be related to events surrounding the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh, but Haley has been involved with the Federalist Society which played a key role in elevating Kavanaugh to the court.
Some are saying the reason is much more simple. The Haleys have never made a lot of money, and they want to.
But why else? This:
*extremely conspiracy theory voice*
— Max Steele (@maxasteele) October 9, 2018
Sessions is leaving after the midterms. Graham will replace him. Haley is running for Graham’s seat.
UPDATE: Nope —
President Donald Trump says people "know that Ivanka would be dynamite" as a replacement to Nikki Haley, but "I'd then be accused of nepotism if you can believe it."
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) October 9, 2018
"I think Ivanka would be incredible," he adds, but "that doesn't mean I'd pick her" https://t.co/N6xkkDbo98 pic.twitter.com/fZkShyIdRd
Trump implies that the new UN Ambassador is gonna be less competent than Ivanka. pic.twitter.com/2nGl0ESJiz
— Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) October 9, 2018
Imagine being a career foreign service officer and hearing the president say that nobody would be a more competent UN Ambassador than his handbag & shoe design-stealing daughter.
— Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) October 9, 2018