U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley's unexpected resignation sent speculators scrambling to uncover her replacement. Several signs are pointing to former Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell.
On Tuesday, Haley announced she'd be stepping down by January, writing in her resignation letter that she would give President Trump time to appoint and the Senate time to confirm a replacement. It looks like Trump has a head start on that process, with CNBC reporting that White House officials have already talked to Powell about taking the role, and Trump telling reporters Tuesday that Powell is "under consideration."
Powell spent less than a year as Trump's deputy national security adviser, leaving on good terms in January to be closer to her family in New York City and take a job at Goldman Sachs. The U.N. ambassadorship is, perhaps not so coincidentally, also based in New York. One problem: Powell's policy positions "do not line up with" National Security Adviser John Bolton's, Politico's Nancy Cook pointed out.
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Still, Trump has "many names" to consider for the role, he told reporters Tuesday. He even somewhat jokingly said there wasn't "anybody more competent in the world" to take the job than his daughter Ivanka Trump. Unfortunately, choosing Ivanka would get him "accused of nepotism," Trump said. Another realistic choice might be Richard Grenell, the current ambassador to Germany who Trump ally Andrew Surabian has already called "the best choice to replace Nikki Haley."
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