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Powell, a former assistant national security adviser at Trump, has encountered obstacles in the White House to get the job, given her tense relationship with White House chief of staff John Kelly, according to sources close of the process.
But Powell has faced several forces opposed to the interior of the White House. One official said his candidacy had become "incredibly more complicated" because of the escalating diplomatic crisis with Saudi Arabia.
"Nobody knows more about the relationship between Jared and MBS than her," said a senior official, referring to Trump's advisor and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The official said the situation could have become a central issue in a Senate confirmation hearing if Trump had appointed her and she accepted the role.
The move to the UN would have made Powell one of the most public faces of the foreign policy of the administration and would have earned it to be confirmed by the Senate.
At the White House, Powell was deeply involved in the Middle East's administration policy and had been instrumental in planning all of Mr. Trump's overseas travels, as well as from its beginnings at the UN General Assembly in September 2017. A source familiar with the discussions previously told CNN that Haley was in favor of Powell replacing her, and many sources report that Powell had a close relationship with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
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