U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell is emerging as a top candidate to replace outgoing U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley among conservative circles.
Donald Trump Jr.’s top adviser Andrew Surabian tweeted Tuesday: “@RichardGrenell is undoubtedly the best choice to replace Nikki Haley as Ambassador to the United Nations.”
The Washington Examiner reported that Grenell is the “family favorite.”
Grenell visited the White House to meet with President Trump just last week, as Haley reportedly tendered her resignation letter.
Grenell, 52, would be familiar with the job. He served as the U.S. spokesman when now-National Security Adviser John Bolton served in the position during the Bush administration, and Bolton’s proximity to Trump gives Grenell a big booster in the White House.
Grenell was confirmed as U.S. ambassador to Germany earlier this year, by a bipartisan 56-42 vote — which means he has already been vetted once by the Senate and could be confirmed again more easily than an outside contender.
If nominated and confirmed, he would be the first openly gay person in that position.
Another name being floated is former Deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell, who resigned earlier this year. Powell was with Haley over the weekend:
Never Trumper Max Boot told CNN on Tuesday that he thought Powell would be a good replacement.
“I think somebody like Dina Powell would be a great choice because, again, she’s seen as a more moderate mainstream conservative,” he said.
Boot said he feared that Bolton would exert his will towards the U.N. by pushing for someone who will mirror his “hard-line unilateralism, anti-nationalist views.”
“Dina Powell would be somebody more on the Nikki Haley lines, more moderate and more acceptable to the rest of the world. This will be an interesting test as to where the power lies within the Trump administration,” he said.
Trump has said he may name someone to the position in the coming weeks.
***Update***
President Trump told reporters Tuesday evening he is considering five people for the position, and Ambassador Richard Grenell is not one of them.
He said, according to Bloomberg, “Ric Grenell is absolutely someone I would consider but he’s doing so well in Germany. [I’d] Rather keep Ric where he is.”
Former deputy National Security Adviser Dina Powell is reportedly one of the five being considered.
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