State Department Spokeswoman Heather Nauert, who was once considered a shoo-in to replace Nikki Haley as ambassador to the United Nations, is no longer a favorite for the gig, and may be out of the running entirely, Politico reported.
According to a senior administration official who spoke to Politico, Nauert’s rank over other candidates has diminished in recent weeks. While Trump felt Nauert fit his “central casting” qualifications — a system he often uses when making appointments — critic’s concerns about the former Fox News reporter’s lack of foreign policy experience have reached Trump’s ear. The fact that her current position did not require Senate confirmation and her scarce diplomatic experience have also both become road blocks.
Trump is reportedly most interested in courting John James, a Michigan businessman who recently failed to unseat Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow in the midterms. A White House official told Politico that Trump, along with Vice President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other senior officials are “very fond of” James, who is also an Iraq War veteran.
Read Politico’s full report here.