Donald Trump picks Indian-American Nikki Haley as UN envoy

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley. (File)

US President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday chose South Carolina’s Indian-American Governor Nikki Haley as US ambassador to the United Nations. Haley, 44, will be the first woman to join Trump’s administration. She would replace Samantha Power as the next US Ambassador to the UN, the Wall Street Journal reported. Besides, she would also be the first ever Indian-American Cabinet rank official in any administration. The Cabinet position would require confirmation by the Senate.

Reports also said that former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, a Haley ally, is said to be Trump’s likely choice for secretary of state, a position Haley was previously speculated for last week. Trump has picked Gen (rtd) James Mattis as his Defense Secretary, suggest reports.

ALSO READ: Indian-American Nikki Haley leads Donald Trump’s pick for US Ambassador to UN: Report

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The newest revelation comes after Haley’s face-to-face meeting with Trump at Trump Tower in New York on Thursday. “It was a good meeting. We talked about a multiple group of topics and it was nice meeting,” she had told reporters on Monday.

“The move, expected Wednesday, continues the steep political rise of the daughter of Indian immigrants that started six years ago when the Bamberg native was elected as South Carolina’s first female and minority governor,” reported The Post and Courier, the leading newspaper of South Carolina.

(With PTI inputs)