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Nikki Haley: US ambassador to UN resigns Nikki Haley: US ambassador to UN resigns
(35 minutes later)
US President Donald Trump has accepted the surprise resignation of UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.US President Donald Trump has accepted the surprise resignation of UN Ambassador Nikki Haley.
He told reporters in the Oval Office Mrs Haley would be leaving the post at the end of the year after doing "an incredible job". He told reporters in the Oval Office alongside Mrs Haley that she would be leaving the post at the end of the year after doing "an incredible job".
Joined by the former South Carolina governor in the Oval Office, he invited her to come back in a different role. "You can have your pick," he said. The 46-year-old former South Carolina governor - who is one of the few women in the Trump cabinet - gave no reason for her exit after two years.
She told him: "Thank you, Mr President. It has been an honour of a lifetime." But she dismissed speculation she was planning to run for president in 2020.
Mrs Haley, 46, told reporters that despite speculation, she was not planning to run for president in 2020. Mrs Haley told journalists she would be campaigning for "this one", pointing to Mr Trump.
She said she would be campaigning for "this one", pointing to Mr Trump. "I don't have anything set on where I'm going to go," she said.
"I don't have anything set on where I'm going to go," Mrs Haley said.
"It's been eight years of intense time, and I'm a believer in term limits."It's been eight years of intense time, and I'm a believer in term limits.
"I think you have to be selfless enough to know when you step aside and allow someone else do the job.""I think you have to be selfless enough to know when you step aside and allow someone else do the job."
Mrs Haley's Twitter bio had already removed all reference to her role as UN ambassador even before her departure was confirmed. She told Mr Trump: "Thank you, Mr President. It has been an honour of a lifetime."
Mr Trump said Mrs Haley - who was confirmed in the post shortly after his inauguration - had told him six months ago she wanted to take some time off. Her Twitter bio had removed all reference to her UN envoy role before her departure was confirmed.
Mr Trump said Mrs Haley had told him six months ago she wanted to take some time off.
The president said she "has been very special to me, she has done an incredible job, she is a fantastic person, very importantly, but she is also somebody that gets it".The president said she "has been very special to me, she has done an incredible job, she is a fantastic person, very importantly, but she is also somebody that gets it".
"We've done a fantastic job together," he continued. "We've solved a lot of problems, and we're in the process of solving a lot of problems." "We've done a fantastic job together," he continued.
"Hopefully you'll be coming back at some point, right," Mr Trump said. "Maybe a different capacity, you can have your pick." Mrs Haley laughed."Hopefully you'll be coming back at some point, right," Mr Trump said. "Maybe a different capacity, you can have your pick." Mrs Haley laughed.
Mr Trump also told reporters: "She's made it a very glamorous position."Mr Trump also told reporters: "She's made it a very glamorous position."
He added that he would be naming her replacement in the next two to three weeks.He added that he would be naming her replacement in the next two to three weeks.
The president said "very good people" are interested in taking up her role.The president said "very good people" are interested in taking up her role.
Who is Nikki Haley?Who is Nikki Haley?
Mrs Haley's letter of resignation comes a day after an anti-corruption watchdog group called for a federal investigation into her. Mrs Haley's letter of resignation said: "I expect to continue to speak out from time to time on important public policy matters, but I will surely not be a candidate for any office in 2020."
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said she had accepted seven luxury private plane trips as gifts from South Carolina business leaders. Her announcement comes a day after an anti-corruption watchdog accused her of accepting seven luxury private plane trips as gifts from South Carolina business leaders.
The group said she had undervalued the cost of the flights between Washington, New York, and South Carolina by tens of thousands of dollars in her annual financial disclosure report. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said Mrs Haley had undervalued the cost of the flights by tens of thousands of dollars in an annual financial disclosure report.
She has just served as temporary president of the UN Security Council for a month.
In April, Mrs Haley clashed with the White House when a Trump aide suggested she had prematurely announced a round of sanctions against Russia.In April, Mrs Haley clashed with the White House when a Trump aide suggested she had prematurely announced a round of sanctions against Russia.
White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow suggested she had got "ahead of the curve" and had a "momentary confusion".White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow suggested she had got "ahead of the curve" and had a "momentary confusion".
But she fired back hours later telling Fox News: "With all due respect, I don't get confused."But she fired back hours later telling Fox News: "With all due respect, I don't get confused."
The daughter of immigrants from India, Mrs Haley was a frequent critic of Mr Trump during his election campaign.The daughter of immigrants from India, Mrs Haley was a frequent critic of Mr Trump during his election campaign.
In December 2017, she said that women who had accused Mr Trump of sexual assault "should be heard". She had said that women who accused him of sexual assault "should be heard".
At one point she suggested that Mr Trump's rhetoric could trigger a world war.At one point she suggested that Mr Trump's rhetoric could trigger a world war.
BBC New York correspondent Nick Bryant said Mrs Haley had formed a partnership with UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres to protect the UN against Mr Trump's anti-globalist agenda.BBC New York correspondent Nick Bryant said Mrs Haley had formed a partnership with UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres to protect the UN against Mr Trump's anti-globalist agenda.
Her with-us-or-against-us approach grated on many diplomats, but she was widely considered to be an internationalist ally, our correspondent adds.Her with-us-or-against-us approach grated on many diplomats, but she was widely considered to be an internationalist ally, our correspondent adds.
Republican lawmakers swiftly praised Mrs Haley after the news broke.Republican lawmakers swiftly praised Mrs Haley after the news broke.
Retiring Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said: "She challenged friend and foe to be better."Retiring Speaker of the House Paul Ryan said: "She challenged friend and foe to be better."
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said she had been "a true agent of reform" at the UN.South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said she had been "a true agent of reform" at the UN.