Report: Nikki Haley will be Trump's UN Ambassador; Update: Haley accepts

Robert Costa at the Washington Post reports that the Trump transition team is poised to announce South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley as the country’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

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South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, a rising Republican star and daughter of Indian immigrants, has accepted President-elect Donald Trump’s offer to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in the coming administration, according to a person familiar with the selection process.

The move, which will be announced Wednesday morning, was first reported by the Post and Courier , comes as Trump advisers are seeking to diversify his ranks and marks his first female appointment to a cabinet-level post.

The person spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a decision that has not yet been announced by Trump’s transition team.

Haley’s hometown paper, the Post and Courier, expands on the story:

The planned nomination to the cabinet-level post, confirmed by multiple sources with knowledge of the decision, is likely to raise questions about Haley’s qualifications for a major foreign policy role since she has little diplomatic experience as state lawmaker and governor.

The 44-year-old’s chief foreign work centers on negotiating with international companies seeking economic development deals in the state and leading seven overseas trade missions as governor. Her husband, Michael, was deployed for nearly a year in Afghanistan with the S.C. National Guard in 2013.

Recent UN ambassadors typically have experience in presidential administrations, usually with the State Department or National Security Council. The post would be Haley’s first in the federal government.

The Trump administration is likely banking on Haley’s strong communication and problem-solving skills in being the U.S. representative at the 193-member United Nations in New York.

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It’s sad that a politician is often reduced to their gender and race, but at a time when identity politics and demographics seem to dominate electoral discussions, Haley “checks off a series of boxes” Republicans believe they need in order to appeal to an ever-changing American electorate.

To that end, it’s no secret that Haley is seen as a very attractive candidate for national office by the Republican establishment. Giving Haley the opportunity to bolster her national security and foreign policy credentials in a high-profile position like UN Ambassador would go a long way to positioning her for a national ticket in the near future.

Could the powers-that-be in Trumpland (meaning incoming Chief of Staff Reince Priebus) already be dreaming of a Pence/Haley ticket?

Update (Ed): It’s official now:

haley

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