According to a Charleston Post & Courier report published early Wednesday morning, Donald Trump asked Nikki Haley to become Ambassador to the United Nations. Before she can officially assume the position, however, the Senate will have to approve Trump's choice. The South Carolina Governor has been on the GOP's up-and-coming list for months now. And though she doesn't have ample diplomatic experience in the international realm, she's proven her ability to unify people on more than one occasion. Update: In an official email from Trump's transition team Wednesday, the campaign announced that Trump plans to nominate Haley for the role. Haley formally accepted the offer Wednesday morning.
Haley made history in three ways following her election in 2011. She is both South Carolina's first female governor and the United States' youngest governor to ever be elected. Lastly, she's also the nation's second Indian-American governor. It was in 2015, though, that she gained the respect of both Republicans and Democrats alike following the horrific, racially-motivated Charleston church shooting. Less than a month later, she signed a bill requiring the state capitol building to finally take down the confederate flag. In a speech that day, she said:
"On matters of race, South Carolina has a tough history. We all know that. Many of us have seen it in our own lives — in the lives of our parents and our grandparents. We don’t need reminders. In spite of last week’s tragedy, we have come a long ways since those days and have much to be proud of, but there’s more we can do."
In fact, it appears as though Haley has indirectly criticized Trump for not promoting unity and acceptance in America. In January, following President Obama's State of the Union address, Haley made her message loud and clear without naming names. She said:
"During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices. We must resist that temptation. No one who is willing to work hard, abide by our laws, and love our traditions should ever feel unwelcome in this country."
The next month, Haley endorsed former GOP presidential candidate Marco Rubio and, not surprisingly, Trump had something to say about that via Twitter.
The governor responded with a kill 'em with kindness response: "Bless your heart." Now, it's safe to assume that's all water under the bridge. At the RNC, Haley confirmed that she will be voting for Trump and soon after, rumors floated around suggesting she might be tapped for the VP position. Though ambassador to the UN doesn't hold the same status as vice president of the United States, this is a big opportunity for the rising GOP politician.