Trump-Haley announcement: President praises his 'friend' as UN Ambassador says 'US is strong again' after shock resignation

Oval Office announcement comes as Nikki Haley resigns as US Ambassador to the UN

Nikki Haley says her stepping down is 'not for personal reasons'

Donald Trump has accepted Nikki Haley’s resignation as the US ambassador to the United Nations, celebrating her nearly two-year tenure and inviting her back to the administration in a role of her choice after “some time off”.

It remained unclear as to why exactly the South Carolina Republican had decided to leave her post from the international body, as the politician cited her belief in “term-limits” before reaffirming her commitment to the president’s “America First” agenda. She told reporters she was not planning on running for president in 2020, and would instead campaign for Mr Trump during his re-election campaign.

The departure arrived amid a fresh scandal for the official who has largely remained unattached from the daily controversies stemming from the White House. Ethics watchdog groups like Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington have called for an investigation into her use of private planes that were reportedly at the expense of businesspersons in her home state of South Carolina.

Follow updates as they happened below.

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Key Points

• White House has "number of people who would like to do the job"
• President says Nikki Haley can "have her pick" of jobs
• Nikki Haley resigns as US Ambassador to UN

[9 October 2018 16:04 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump said Nikki Haley “got to know the players … on a first name basis,” adding, “and they like her, and maybe more importantly they respect her”. 

“Hopefully you’ll be coming back at some point in a different capacity, you can have your pick … we’ll be in constant touch,” he added.

[9 October 2018 16:06 · Chris Riotta]

Nikki Haley addressed the media after Donald Trump announced her resignation, saying the UN “is stronger” after her two-year tenure as the US top diplomat to the international organisation.

“It has been the honour of a lifetime … to serve a country that I love so much,” she said. “Countries may not like what we do but they respect what we do.”

[9 October 2018 16:07 · Chris Riotta]

“I can tell you that the US is strong again,” Nikki Haley said during a meeting announcing her resignation, before praising the president’s family.

“Jared is such a hidden genius” Ms Haley said, adding that “Ivanka has been a great friend.”

“We’re a better country because they’re in this administration,” she added.

[9 October 2018 16:11 · Chris Riotta]

“It was a blessing to go into the UN every day with body armour,” Nikki Haley said, describing how she “fought” for the United States every day during her two-year tenure at the international body. 

[9 October 2018 16:14 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump said Nikki Haley may have made the top diplomat position for the US to the United Nations a more “glamorous” and “important” position than it was prior to her tenure. 

He went on to tout North Korea’s lack of intercontinental ballistic missile tests, adding that he agreed to “meet” and “spend time” with the regime’s officials.

[9 October 2018 16:36 · Chris Riotta]

Rumours have already begun to swirl around who might replace Nikki Haley as the US ambassador to the United Nations, with many speculating Jared Kushner or Ivanka Trump may fill the role shortly after her departure at the end of the year. 

The South Carolina Republican praised Mr Kushner as “a hidden genius” within Donald Trump’s administration and Ms Trump as “a great friend.” 

The day before her departure was announced publicly, Ms Trump appeared to begin following a host of Defence Department accounts online.

[9 October 2018 17:00 · Chris Riotta]

Donald Trump criticised Hillary Clinton during an Oval Office meeting announcing Nikki Haley’s departure from her post at the United Nations, saying his former 2016 presidential opponent “doesn’t get it. She never did.” 

His comments arrived after the former secretary of state called the president’s formal ceremony last night with Supreme Court justice Brett Kavanaugh a “political rally.” 

“I guess that’s why she lost,” Mr Trump added.

[9 October 2018 17:20 · Chris Riotta]

Nikki Haley said during an Oval Office meeting announcing her resignation as the US ambassador to the United Nations: “Now the United States is respected. Countries may not like what we do, but they respect what we do. They know that if we say we’re going to do something, we follow it through.”

[9 October 2018 17:40 · Chris Riotta]

Ivanka Trump has tweeted the following amid Nikki Haley's resignation: "Ambassador Haley has served America with dignity + distinction. She is a bold reformer and has been an unwavering champion of truth, principled realism and integrity within the United Nations. Jared and I are grateful for her friendship — a true blessing in our lives!"

[9 October 2018 18:00 · Chris Riotta]

Nikki Haley’s shocking departure arrives just one day after progressive watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington called for an investigation into her use of private planes while serving as the US ambassador to the United Nations under Donald Trump.