The US ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, has unexpectedly resigned, raising questions about whether she stood down voluntarily or was forced to quit and whether she could be preparing to run for office in 2020.
The former South Carolina governor was confirmed as US envoy to the UN in January 2017 and is set to leave the post at the end of the year.
Announcing her resignation, US President Donald Trump said she had done “an incredible job” and had told him six months ago she wanted to take some time off.
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Despite being a frequent and early critic of Trump, Reuters describes her as “one of Trump’s most trusted advisors”, adding “it was not immediately clear why she quit”.
She has, though, had a number of run-ins with the administration over the past year. The BBC says she once suggested Trump’s rhetoric could trigger a world war, and in April she clashed with the White House when a Trump aide claimed she had prematurely announced a new round of sanctions against Russia.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow told reporters Haley had got “ahead of the curve” by previewing the policy, putting her remarks down to “momentary confusion”.
She fired back hours later telling Fox News: “With all due respect, I don't get confused”.
Last November, she also risked the ire of the White House after saying the women who had accused the president of sexual assault “should be heard”.
Nevertheless, her outspokenness, on subjects ranging from human rights abroad to racism at home, has made her hugely popular.
A broad 63% of American voters approve of her job performance versus only 17% who say they disapprove in a new Quinnipiac University poll.
Her approval spans party lines: 75% of Republicans, 63% of independents and even 55% of Democrats say they approve of how she's handling her job, and her numbers “climb higher than those of virtually every active politician on the world stage today”, says CNN.
Sitting with Trump in the Oval Office, Haley sought to tamp down speculation she may challenge the president in two years.
“No, I am not running for 2020,” Haley said. She raised the topic unprompted, saying she knew it would likely arise.
Only time will tell if she is telling the truth.
