Washington – United State president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday, nominated South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, 44, to serve as his ambassador to the UN.
Haley an Indian American, had been a prominent opponent of Trump during the Republican Party’s state-by-state primaries earlier this year and had offered only tepid support during his campaign against Hillary Clinton.
The naming of Haley, the first woman of Asian descent to lead a state, will add diversity to Trump’s team amid criticism that it has been so far dominated by older white men.
It also pointed to his willingness to bring former critics into his administration.
“Gov. Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our country.
“She is also a proven deal maker, and we look to be making plenty of deals. She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage,” Trump said in a statement
Haley said in a statement that she would accept the nomination, but regretted not completing her term as governor.
“When the president believes you have a major contribution to make to the welfare of our nation, and to our nation’s standing in the world, that is a calling that is important to heed,” she said.
Haley was elected in 2010 as a wave of fiscally conservative lawmakers and governors backed by the ultra-conservative tea party movement rode into office amid opposition to President Barack Obama’s health care reforms.
She drew nationwide attention for her handling of a racially motivated shooting at an African American church in Charleston last year.
Her willingness to face criticism in the conservative southern state by calling for the removal of a Confederate flag from the statehouse grounds also drew attention.
She has focused much of her two terms in office on promoting economic growth and ethics reform.
Harley has little experience on the international stage, which is sure to raise questions when she faces a Senate nomination hearing.
An accountant and businesswoman, she served in the South Carolina legislature from 2004 until she became governor.
She was born in Nimrata Randhawa in South Carolina, the daughter of Sikh immigrants. Haley, who converted to Christianity, is married with two teenage children.
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