In a surprise move that came out of nowhere, although the White House will never admit that, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley announced her resignation alongside President Donald Trump on Tuesday.
The first questions to arise, of course, were about her future plans. For instance, many wondered whether Haley would be a primary challenger for Trump in the 2020 presidential elections.
‘No, I am not running in 2020. I can promise you what I’ll be doing is campaigning for [Trump]…I look forward to supporting the president in the next election.’
Nikki Haley, who is resigning as US Ambassador to the United Nations: "No, I am not running for 2020. I can promise you what I'll be doing is campaigning for" President Trump's reelection. https://t.co/dCiHj63HBH pic.twitter.com/CT1u3vdh6a
— CNN (@CNN) October 9, 2018
Trump spoke glowingly about Haley, saying how “special” she has been to him. If she should decide to challenge him in an election, however, that tone will likely change drastically. Considering the tenor of Trump’s attacks on other women throughout his campaigning days and time in office, he could certainly dream up plenty of things to attack Haley over if she should dare challenge him in the future.
President Donald Trump on Nikki Haley: "She has been very special to me, she’s done an incredible job … She told me, probably six months ago … She said, 'you know, maybe at the end of the year … I want to take a little time off'” https://t.co/aXOr7E2TKO pic.twitter.com/rxe8jRsDwH
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 9, 2018
Haley said that she has now served in government office for eight years and believes in term limits, which led her to decide to resign her post. However, recent conflicts between her and the rest of Trump’s administration are most likely a motivator, as well.
‘White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who previously led the Department of Homeland Security’s crackdown on illegal immigration, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions strongly backed a pullout, according to diplomatic sources familiar with the deliberations. The State Department initially opposed the withdrawal, but its policy planning chief, Brian Hook, who represented Secretary of State Rex Tillerson at the principals’ meeting, reversed course and recommended ditching the negotiations.
‘The meeting ended in deadlock, with Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, expressing the lone dissent. Haley had argued that the United States would have a better shot at influencing the outcome of the negotiations if it participated in the process.
‘She was ultimately overruled by the president, according to diplomatic sources.’
.@nikkihaley: "I'm a believer in term limits. I think you have to be selfless enough to know when you step aside and allow someone else to do the job." https://t.co/yr6Ul5M4wT pic.twitter.com/RYQVTfEmsw
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 9, 2018
It has to be exceedingly difficult to do a job that your boss intentionally and consistently undermines. After forcing a withdrawal from the United Nations, an ambassador would appear to be unnecessary. Additionally, although Haley insisted that the U.N. “respects” America again under Trump, that moment when world leaders laughed in his face during a recent speech there would tend to prove that assertion false, as well.
Following Nikki Haley's resignation, here's a look at the turnover in the Trump administration — so far https://t.co/AXEwrkkygR
— The New York Times (@nytimes) October 9, 2018
Trump’s administration’s exceedingly high turnover rate continues. It is questionable, at this point, whether or not Trump intends to even appoint a new U.N. ambassador in Haley’s absence.
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