Nikki Haley has announced she will be stepping down from her role as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations during a sit-down with President Trump in the Oval Office on Tuesday.
In her resignation letter, obtained by The Washington Post, Haley said she is prepared to serve until January 2019, at which point she will become a private citizen, and “surely” will not run for any political office in 2020. She cited a belief in term limits for public officials as the reason for her decision, along with a desire to take a breather from government work after 14 years in public office.
“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,” she wrote. “As a private citizen, I look forward to supporting your re-election as President, and supporting the policies that will continue to move our country toward even greater heights.”
With Haley sitting at his side, Trump told a crowd of reporters that she will be leaving at the end of the year, explaining that her job as ambassador allowed her to get to know many of the other international players and world leaders.
“That was really the thing I think she did best at the United Nations, she got to know the players,” he said. “She got to know China, Russia, India. She knows everybody on a very first name basis and they like her, except for maybe a couple, which is normal.”
“So Nikki, I just wanted to tell you we’ll miss you,” he said. “We’ll be speaking all the time, but we’ll miss you nevertheless and you have done a fantastic job and I want to thank you very much.”
