State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert is expected to be nominated as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said an administration official and a second source.
President Donald Trump is expected to make the announcement today, according to two officials.
Nauert’s nomination will most likely spark controversy as she is relatively inexperienced for such a high-profile diplomatic position and she will most certainly face a tough Senate confirmation hearing, where Democrats will grill her on her qualifications for the post.
However, it is also likely that the UN position she is to hold will be downgraded from the Cabinet-level job previous ambassador Nikki Haley had considering both Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and national security adviser John Bolton have expressed their desire that the post be downgraded.
Should that be the case, Nauert would have significantly less influence than her predecessor and thus present less of a challenge for Bolton, White House chief of staff John Kelly or Pompeo, with whom Haley reportedly often sparred.
People familiar with the president’s thinking say that Nauert’s loyalty to him was the key factor for her nomination, rather than the level of experience she possesses. This has worried some that the former Fox News host may not be well-equipped to navigate the gritty behind the scenes work of UN negotiations, CNN writes.
As a result, critics were quick to attack her, saying she “brings no experience, no understanding and, frankly, no interest in learning.”
“Her main claim to this role is her willingness to defend the indefensible as a spokesperson. It’s hard to believe that this president could further diminish the view of the United States in the world, but this appointment is likely to do it,” said Brian Dixon, a senior vice president at Population Connection Action Fund.
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