All the speculation about why Nikki Haley is resigning

Nikki Haley is out as U.N. ambassador, and maybe, possibly, Ivanka Trump is in.

At least that's what CNN was speculating as President Trump confirmed Haley's resignation on Tuesday, adding that she would leave the post at the end of the year to "take a break." And CNN's was far from the only theory out there.

Haley's Tuesday announcement reportedly surprised even top White House officials, seeing as Haley said she even felt safe "directly" challenging the president's decisions in a Washington Post op-ed last month. But the Post's John Hudson speculates Haley's opposition also could've driven her departure.

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Trump and other officials — including Ivanka Trump — quickly poured praise on Haley following the announcement, fueling rumors that Haley was headed for another Trumpian role. Some even suggested Haley was running for president in 2020 with Trump's support. No, Haley said Tuesday, affirming she'd campaign for Trump.

It could be that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) was replacing Trump's public enemy, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, and Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, would run for his Senate seat, some people speculated. Alas, Graham is "not interested" in a Cabinet spot, an aide told CNN.

Perhaps Haley's departure had to do with a watchdog group's request for an investigation into Haley's private flights paid for by business executives. Still, their $24,000 price tag was nothing compared to the $341,000 worth of flights ex-Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price charged to the government.

Or maybe, just maybe, there's a reason Trump is having a certain high-profile lunch meeting Thursday. Kathryn Krawczyk