Indian-American Nikki Haley now eyed for UN envoy in Trump admin

Indian-American Nikki Haley now eyed for UN envoy in Trump admin
Indian-American Nikki Haley now eyed for UN envoy in Trump admin

UNITED NATIONS, Nov 23 (APP): The Governor of U.S. state of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, who is of Indian ancestry, is now the leading candidate for United Nations Ambassador in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration, a report in The Wall Street Journal said.

The report cites sources close to Trump’s transition team that Haley, who met with Trump last week in New York, is now being eyed for a diplomatic role in the administration.

“Governor Haley was pleased to meet with President-elect Trump,” Haley’s Deputy Chief of Staff Rob Godfrey was quoted as saying. “They had a good discussion, and she is very encouraged about the coming administration and the new direction it will bring to Washington.”

Last week, reports indicated Haley was being floated as a candidate for Secretary of State. However, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appears to be the leading choice for the nation’s top diplomat, the Wall Street Journal said.

Born as Nimrata Randhawa to Sikh parents who migrated from Indian Punjab, Ms. Haley created history by becoming the first woman to occupy the governor’s mansion of South Carolina.

She has since converted to Christianity, but occasionally goes to Sikh services at her parents’ request.

Haley, 44, is married to Michael Haley, an officer in US defence department.

Currently serving her second term as governor, she has little foreign policy experience, although the Post and Courier points out that she has traveled abroad eight times since taking office. Her husband was deployed to Afghanistan in 2013 as a member of the S.C. National Guard, the Post and Courier reported.

Haley would bring a dash of diversity to Trump’s appointments, which so far have uniformly consisted of white males.

She was critical of Trump during the primary campaign, calling him one of the “angriest voices” and accusing him of contributing to “irresponsible talk.” She also denounced Trump’s plan to ban on Muslims entering the U.S.

APP Services