Trump picks South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to be US ambassador to UN- (CNN)President-elect Donald Trump has picked South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley to be the US ambassador to the United Nations, the transition team announced Wednesday.
Haley, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, has already carved out a legacy for herself, serving as her home state's first female and first minority governor.
Once considered a potential vice president pick, Trump's tapping Haley further rises the profile of a rising star in a party whose leaders are increasingly attempting to attract more minorities and women.
Haley was also among those being considered by Trump for secretary of state. Her pick leaves former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani and a handful of others among those still in the running for the top diplomat position.
While on the stump during the campaign, Haley vocally disavowed Trump, appearing publicly on behalf of Marco Rubio and endorsing Sen. Ted Cruz after the Florida senator dropped out of the GOP primary race.
Relations between Haley and Trump have been far from cordial, with both vaulting verbal jabs at each other during the race for the White House.
Rep. Sean Duffy said Wednesday that the fact that Trump is even considering Haley after her criticism of the President-elect speaks highly of him.
"I think it's quite remarkable that he's looking for talent and not trying to settle old scores," the Wisconsin Republican told CNN's Chris Cuomo on "New Day."
Trump said in January that Haley's stance on immigration was "weak" after the South Carolina governor welcomed properly vetted legal immigrants into her state, regardless of race or religion. He also tweeted in March, "The people of South Carolina are embarrassed by Nikki Haley!"
Haley went as far to say that Trump represents "everything a governor doesn't want in a president."
"I want someone who is going to hold Republicans accountable, and I want someone who is going to make a difference, not just for our party but for every person they represent in the country," she told reporters in February.
In a video response to President Barack Obama's annual State of the Union address, Haley never used Trump's name, but implied that he would threaten "the dream that is America" for others.
But by October, Haley had switched her position, saying she would vote for Trump even though she was "not a fan."
But Haley, who once suggested that Trump was among "the angriest voices," was jubilant by his election.
"I'm just giddy, and if you talk to any of the governors here, we are so excited at the possibility and the opportunities that are going to be here," she said after his win.
"The idea that now we can start to really govern -- I have never known what it's like to have a Republican president. I can tell you that the last five years, Washington has been the hardest part of my job," Haley said. "This is a new day."
The Charleston Post and Courier newspaper was the first to report Trump's pick for UN ambassador overnight.
source cnn
source cnn
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