State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert on Saturday (local time) withdrew herself from consideration for the nomination of the US ambassador to the United countries.
US President Donald Trump will announce a new nominee for the post soon, according to the State Department.
“I am grateful to President Trump and Secretary Pompeo for the trust they placed in me for considering me for the position of the US Ambassador to the United Nations. However, the past two months had been gruelling for my family an therefore it is in the best interest of my family that i withdraw my name from the consideration.” said Nauert in a statement.
ALSO READ: Iran warns Pakistan, says would ‘pay a heavy price’
“Serving in the Administration for the past two years has been the highest honours of my life and I will always be grateful to the President, the secretary, and my colleagues at the State Department for their support” she added.
Lauding Nauert, US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said that she has performed her duties in the State Department with ‘unequalled excellence’
“Her personal decision today to withdraw her name from consideration to become a nominee for The United States ambassador to the United Nations is a decision for which I have great respect. I wish Heather nothing but the best in all her future endeavours and know that she will continue to be a great representative of this nation in whatever role she finds herself.” Pompeo said in a statement.
A former Fox News journalist, Nauert was appointed as the spokesperson for the State Departement in April 2017. She had served under former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson as well as the incumbent Pompeo.
Nauert was nominated to the post of UN envoy by Trump in December 2018 following the surprise resignation of the then UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who officially resigned on December 31.
Jonathan Cohen is currently serving as the acting US envoy to the UN since January 1, following Haley’s resignation the previous day.
(With ANI inputs)