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Nikki Haley confirmed as next U.S. Ambassador to United Nations
South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley speaks to the crowd after being sworn in for her second term as governor, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015, at the state Capitol in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Richard Shiro)
WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was confirmed Tuesday to become the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, placing the rising Republican star squarely in the middle of advancing President Trump’s agenda in an institution whose effectiveness has been called into question.
Haley will step down from her gubernatorial role in South Carolina to assume one of the country’s highest profile diplomatic jobs and one that will certainly help her resume further down the road when she seeks elected office again.
Though she has no formal foreign policy experience, her appointment received well by Democrats, who provided her with overwhelming support throughout the confirmation process. The final vote of 96-4 reflected the view that Haley would be a sensible diplomat and speak her mind in a new administration.
The four senators who voted no were Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Christopher A. Coons (D-Del.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.).
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee had approved her nomination by voice vote earlier Tuesday.
Democrats praised Haley last week after she freely disagreed with President Trump on some policy matters, including Russia. She said the new president would welcome a range of views. Haley had been critical of Trump the candidate, and voiced during her confirmation hearing heavy skepticism about Russia and optimism about NATO, both deviations of Trump statements. She unequivocally rejected the idea of a Muslim registry or ban, which President Trump has never fully disavowed.
She said she is comfortable with Trump’s “American first” approach, and declared her support for the president’s efforts in moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a shift that Arab leaders have previously said could ignite violence in the Middle East.
During her Jan. 18 hearing, Haley also questioned the priorities and effectiveness of the United Nations, which Trump has called a toothless debating society, but said she intends to “fix” what doesn’t work.
“I have no problem calling people out,” Haley said.
The United Nations is “often at odds with American national interests and American taxpayers,” Haley said, adding that she would use the “leverage” of potential cuts in U.S. funding to demand reform.
“We contribute 22 percent of the U.N.’s budget, far more than any other country. We are a generous nation,” Haley said. “But we must ask ourselves what good is being accomplished by this disproportionate contribution. Are we getting what we pay for?”
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