After a four-month search, US President Donald Trump on Friday confirmed that Kelly Craft, currently the US ambassador to Canada, would replace Nikki Haley as his envoy to the United Nations.

Trump announced his decision in a pair of tweets, praising Craft's credentials for the job.

"I am pleased to announce that Kelly Knight Craft, our current Ambassador to Canada, is being nominated to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations...," Trump wrote.

"Kelly has done an outstanding job representing our nation and I have no doubt that, under her leadership, our country will be represented at the highest level. Congratulations to Kelly and her entire family!"

Craft is the wife of billionaire coal-mining executive Joe Craft, and they are major Republican donors. She made headlines as Canada ambassador nominee when she said she believes in "both sides" of climate science.

"I think that both sides have their own results, from their studies, and I appreciate and I respect both sides of the science," Craft told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation in 2017.

Craft's nomination is yet to be approved by the US Senate. If selected, she will not hold a Cabinet-level position, as it has been downgraded by President Trump.

According to Reuters news agency, Craft held meetings with Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and National Security Adviser John Bolton on Friday at the Oval Office.

Secretary Pompeo described Craft as an "outstanding advocate for America's national security and economic interests in Canada" and "extremely well-qualified" for the UN ambassador job.

Read more: US Ambassador to UN Nikki Haley resigns

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Challenges for Craft

Craft was not Trump's first choice for the UN post; he had planned to nominate former State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, but she withdrew her name from consideration last week, citing family reasons.

Trump had also considered US ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell and former Senate candidate from Michigan John James for the UN role.

Craft, a Republican donor from Kentucky, served as a member of the US delegation to the UN General Assembly under President George W. Bush's administration.

As US ambassador to Canada, Craft played a key role in negotiating the US-Mexico-Canada trade deal, a revamp of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

If confirmed to the new post, Craft is likely to face a number of challenges, including containing Iran's influence in the Middle East and mending ties with the European Union.

Francois DeLattre, France's UN ambassador, said she looks forward to working with Craft. "I hope that Ms. Craft will continue, like Nikki Haley, to be a bridge between Washington and the UN at a time when we more than ever need an America that is engages with the UN in world affairs and committed to our shared values, beginning with human rights," she said.

Read more: Opinion: Nikki Haley, Donald Trump's global enabler, was no moderate

Nikki Haley: From Trump critic to Trump envoy Daughter of immigrants Nikki Haley was born Nimrata Randhawa to an immigrant family from India. She studied accounting at Clemson University and continued working at her family's clothing business, where she helped as a teenager. She is married to Michael Haley, an officer in the National Guard.

Nikki Haley: From Trump critic to Trump envoy Breaking the glass ceiling In 2011, Haley took over as the governor of South Carolina after having served three terms in the state House of Representatives. Haley was the first woman and the first member of an ethnic minority group to be elected as the governor of the state.

Nikki Haley: From Trump critic to Trump envoy Confederate flag During her second term as governor, Haley shot to prominence when she led an effort to remove the Confederate flag from the state Capitol grounds. She had earlier dismissed calls to remove it but changed her mind after a 2015 massacre at a black church in Charleston.

Nikki Haley: From Trump critic to Trump envoy Trump critic Often referred to as a moderate Republican, Haley was one of the harshest critics of US President Donald Trump during his bid for the White House. She criticized Trump for not speaking out against white supremacists, his stance on immigration and his demeanor. She supported Senator Marco Rubio of Florida during the Republican primaries.

Nikki Haley: From Trump critic to Trump envoy Olive branch When Trump named her as his to become ambassador to the United Nations, it came as a surprise to many. The two had sparred bitterly in the run up to the presidential election. Some saw it as an olive branch from Trump.

Nikki Haley: From Trump critic to Trump envoy Outspoken envoy Haley was outspoken and forceful during her brief stint at the UN. She joined her boss in calling out Iran and North Korea on numerous occasions. Under her tenure, the US pulled out of UNESCO and the Human Rights Council. But she did not agree with Trump on some issues, including Russia sanctions and the significance of the world body itself.

Nikki Haley: From Trump critic to Trump envoy Future Republican presidential candidate? Haley, a rising star in the Republican Party, is often mentioned as a possible candidate for the 2020 presidential elections. But she has said she would not be running for the top job in 2020, when Trump plans to run for a second term. Author: Ashutosh Pandey



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