US President Donald Trump has said his daughter, Ivanka, would be “incredible” as a replacement for Nikki Haley as the US ambassador to the United Nations – but that he can “already hear the chants of nepotism”.
The president’s comments come amid speculation he is keen to appoint Ms Trump to the post following the announcement of Ms Haley’s departure. “So nice, everyone wants Ivanka Trump to be the new United Nations Ambassador,” he said on Twitter. “She would be incredible, but I can already hear the chants of Nepotism! We have great people that want the job.” As for Ms Trump herself she has tweeted that her father would “nominate a formidable replacement for Ambassador Haley” but that it will “not be me”. President Trump has said he is considering “numerous people” for the role, with the early frontrunner being his former national security advisor Dina Powell. Mr Trump has said that he expects to name a replacement for Ms Haley – who will serve until the end of the year – in the next “two to three weeks”.
Discussing potential replacements earlier this week, Mr Trump appeared enthusiastic about his daughter’s suitability for the position, saying: “I’ve heard Ivanka, how good would Ivanka be? It has nothing to do with nepotism but people who know know that Ivanka would be dynamite. I’d be accused of nepotism even if there’s no one more competent in the world.” Ms Haley, who has been a staunch defender of Mr Trump’s agenda at the UN, was described as a “very special” person during the announcement of her departure on Tuesday. A former South Carolina governor, Ms Haley has become known for her hardline rhetoric in relation to Russia as well as her dismay at the treatment of Israel by the world body.
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