President Donald Trump on Friday night announced his pick for the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. He took to Twitter to let people know he has chosen Kelly Knight Craft, the current Ambassador to Canada, to fill the vacancy.
I am pleased to announce that Kelly Knight Craft, our current Ambassador to Canada, is being nominated to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2019
....Kelly has done an outstanding job representing our Nation and I have no doubt that, under her leadership, our Country will be represented at the highest level. Congratulations to Kelly and her entire family!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2019
Senate Majority Mitch McConnell (R-KY) applauded the pick.
"Kelly Craft is a strong advocate for American interests and will be a powerful representative of our great nation at the U.N.," McConnell said in a statement. "She has a long record of service to her state and the nation and I'm confident she will continue to serve with distinction as America's voice to the world at the United Nations. I was proud to recommend this remarkable Kentuckian to President Trump."
According to NPR, before serving as Ambassador to Canada, Craft served as an alternate delegate to the U.N. during the George W. Bush administration.
The UN Ambassador position was left vacant by Nikki Haley, who resigned after two years in the position.
Back in December, Trump said he would nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert but her name was never officially sent to the Senate for confirmation. Nauert withdrew her name this month after reports of her nanny being in the United States legally but not was legally allowed to work.
“I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary [Mike] Pompeo for the trust they placed in me for considering me for the position of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations," Nauert said in the statement released by the State Department on Saturday, Fox News reported. "However, the past two months have been grueling for my family and therefore it is in the best interest of my family that I withdraw my name from consideration."
Editor's Note: The headline was corrected to reflect Craft is a nominee at this time.