Nikki Haley achieved historic accomplishments, just like the many women in Trump’s administration
As Nikki Haley, ambassador to the United Nations, announced her resignation in the Oval Office, tongues began to wag with wild theories about her departure.
However, the ambassador has served a term that is on par with other presidential appointees in prior administrations — approximately two years.
{mosads}In fact, the timing is just about right. She was among the first of President Donald Trump’s appointments, assuming her post on January 27, 2017 – just one week after the president’s inauguration.
In keeping with her record of “firsts” — she was South Carolina’s first female governor — she was also the first female cabinet member in the Trump administration to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate. In true Haley form, she sailed through the confirmation process, “easily confirmed” as CNN reported. (It was a pre-Kavanaugh world, after all).
It’s also worth noting that Ambassador Haley is among the record number of women filling high-level appointments in the Trump administration. In fact, female appointees under Trump surpass even President Barack Obama’s and President Bill Clinton’s administrations.
Like the rest of the women appointed in the Trump administration, Ambassador Haley went right to work.
One of her first orders of business was the successful unanimous U.N. Security Council Resolution 2356 in June 2017 that sanctioned economically a list of individuals and entities that were engaged in or providing support for North Korea’s nuclear program. This squelched financial support for the North Korean regime.
Even more remarkable was the fact that she secured another unanimous signal — this one, U.N. Security Council Resolution 2371 — against North Korea with the “most punishing sanctions yet, which banned North Korea’s top exports, costing the regime $1 billion per year. Its passage was a feat that critics said could never be done, under suspicion that neither China nor Russia would ever come to the table for such stringent sanctions against one of their longtime allies. However, both countries signed onto the resolution under Ambassador Haley’s leadership.
Another unanimous resolution quickly followed, U.N. Security Council Resolution 2375, which imposed strict oil sanctions on North Korea, seen as the final nail in the coffin to the regime’s funding of their nuclear program.
The resolutions were a driving force behind Once on the brink of war with North Korea, the U.S. and its allies can now point to success — there has not been a North Korean missile launch in nearly a year.
However, North Korea wasn’t Haley’s only heralded fight.
She often pushed the limits with the wine-swilling class at the U.N. who sat idly by as children were gassed in Syria.
Haley’s accomplishments would be great for any leader, but it’s especially notable given that the former South Carolina governor had “little experience in international affairs” before taking the post.
Perhaps most to Haley’s credit, she carried out the Trump doctrine as someone who initially did not even support Trump as a candidate.
However, with her willingness to put her personal political philosophies aside she was able to accomplish a tremendous amount for American interests around the world.
On the heels of the Kavanaugh confirmation fight, Haley’s diplomatic style is a lesson from which we can all learn.
Jen Kerns has served as a GOP strategist and writer for the U.S. presidential debates for FOX News. She previously served as communications director and spokeswoman for the California Republican Party, the Colorado Recalls over gun control, and the Prop. 8 battle over marriage which went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Regular the hill posts