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WASHINGTON – President Trump should appoint Heather Nauert US ambassador to the United Nations, a senior administration official said.
Ms. Nauert, a former Fox News correspondent, joined the Trump administration last year and is currently the chief communications officer for the state department.
She would replace Nikki Haley, who announced her intention to step down last month.
Trump also planned to replace Ms. Haley with Kelly Craft, US ambassador to Canada, or Dina Powell, a former White House personality.
Kay Bailey Hutchison, a former senator from Texas, is currently US Ambassador to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Another Texan, Nancy Brinker, founder of the Susan G. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer, was also selected.
Ms. Nauert has no prior diplomatic experience. She became the spokesperson for the state department in April 2017, under former secretary Rex Tillerson. She continued in this position after Mr. Tillerson was fired by President Trump and replaced by Mike Pompeo.
She also held the position of Under-Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs from March 13 to October 10, 2018.
Prior to his arrival, Mark Toner, a career diplomatic service officer and former deputy spokesman for the State Department under the Obama administration, briefed the interim press.
At Fox News, Ms. Nauert has been a news presenter on television and recently appeared on the Fox & Friends show. She last appeared on Fox News in February 2017.
Ms. Nauert, who did not respond to a request for comment, did not appear publicly in the State Department this week. In her stead, Robert Palladino, a foreign service career officer who has been MP for Ms. Nauert since August, has briefed reporters three times this week.
When asked about the appointment at a press conference on Thursday, Mr. Palladino said: "Any such announcement is the prerogative of the White House."
Write to Michael C. Bender at [email protected]
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