Following Dina Powell’s “not interested” response, CNN is reporting that President Trump’s current top pick to replace Nikki Haley as UN ambasador is State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.
According to two sources familiar with his pick, CNN reports that Trump could offer Nauert the post as soon as this week.
Notably, Nauert has been keeping a low profile this week after meeting with Trump on Monday. Two of her daily briefings have been conducted by her deputy.
Aside from former deputy national security adviser Dina Powell, who withdrew from consideration early in the process, Trump has eyed several people to replace Haley, including Ric Grennell, the US ambassador to Germany; Jamie McCourt, the US envoy in Paris; and Kelly Craft, the ambassador in Canada.
Trump has repeatedly told aides he wanted a woman to fill the role.
Nauert, who came to government from Fox News, served as State Department spokesman for both Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo but has enjoyed a closer relationship with Trump’s second secretary of state than she did Tillerson, who was privately skeptical of her close ties with the West Wing.
Her elevation to a top diplomatic role underscores the importance Trump has placed on having his top aides also serve as television surrogates. Nauert has briefed regularly from the State Department podium and had a long career in television news before that.
Still, as a diplomat she lacks experience.
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