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.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
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
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
'Voters know Biden and Trump all too well'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Is the Gaza war tearing US university campuses apart?
Today's Big Question Protests at Columbia University, other institutions, pit free speech against student safety
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
DOJ settles with Nassar victims for $138M
Speed Read The settlement includes 139 sexual abuse victims of the former USA Gymnastics doctor
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published