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U.S. NEWS Saturday 21 april 2018

Haley’s pushback draws fans, rattles White House

By JONATHAN LEMIRE and representing the president.
MEG KINNARD And all of a sudden she’s
Associated Press put into this ridiculous situ-
NEW YORK (AP) — The pub- ation of looking as though
lic split between the White she is out there by herself
House and U.N. Ambassa- on something.”
dor Nikki Haley this week Trump has vented to confi-
over Russia sanctions threw dants about the media at-
a spotlight on her at-times tention the dustup has re-
uneasy relationship with ceived, but he hasn’t given
President Donald Trump, any signal that he wants to
even as her deft rebuttal dismiss his ambassador, ac-
bolstered talk about her cording to White House of-
own future political for- ficials and outside advisers.
tunes. Her footing on Trump’s re-
Haley’s rejoinder to a put- vamped national security
down from a close Trump team remains unclear: She
adviser about message is tight with Vice President
confusion — she declared Mike Pence and Secre-
that “I don’t get confused” tary of State nominee Mike
— was seized as a rallying Pompeo, but lost an ally
cry among some women when H.R. McMaster was
and echoed the audac- replaced by John Bolton as
ity the former governor national security adviser.
displayed while upending All the attention has restart-
the old boys’ club in the ed some wary West Wing
South Carolina statehouse. United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley attends a Security Council meeting at whispers about Haley’s ulti-
But the episode also called United Nations headquarters, Thursday, April 19, 2018. mate goals.
into question her standing Associated Press Her rebuttal stood in stark
on Trump’s national secu- gry Sunday when he saw Kudlow apologized but a fluid situation, the deci- contrast to the conduct
rity team ahead of tough Haley on television discuss- Haley’s differences with the sion changed.” of Attorney General Jeff
decisions on North Korea, ing new Russia sanctions White House had already Haley’s pushback struck a Sessions and former Secre-
Iran and other fronts. that she said would be an- pushed into the open. chord, becoming some- tary of State Rex Tillerson,
“What distinguishes her nounced the next day. He At the United Nations, re- thing of an instant feminist who largely remained si-
from the star-struck syco- blasted her for being out of sponding to a shouted motto in the way it rebelled lent when they were un-
phants in the White House step with the rest of the ad- question about her relation- against what some saw as dermined by Trump. She
is that she understands the ministration, according to ship with the president, she a patronizing comment did not support Trump in
intersection of strong lead- two White House officials. simply said, “It’s perfect.” from a powerful man. The her state’s primary elec-
ership and public service, They were not authorized But the White House was words carried additional tion, was viewed by many
where great things hap- to discuss private conversa- left scrambling to explain. resonance considering as gunning for Tillerson’s job
pen,” said Rob Godfrey, a tions and commented only Haley’s allies insist she al- Haley’s place as one of last fall, and has been float-
spokesman for Haley when on condition of anonymity. ways consults with the West the few prominent women ed by some Republicans as
she was governor. Despite Haley’s words, no Wing, and sometimes the in Trump’s inner circle. Her a possible running mate for
Haley, now considered to new sanctions were im- president personally, be- comment was compared Pence if he makes his own
be on the shortlist of future posed. fore speaking publicly. in some quarters to the way White House run.
presidential candidates, Asked for an explanation, White House officials said Sen. Elizabeth Warren had And on Tuesday, her of-
has consistently taken a Larry Kudlow, the presi- the plan about the sanc- appropriated “Neverthe- fice mistakenly blasted an
harder line than Trump on dent’s new economic ad- tions changed after she less, she persisted” as a ral- email containing a series
Russia. While that has, at viser, told reporters that was briefed and she wasn’t lying cry after the remark of press clippings that men-
times, drawn Trump’s ire, Haley “got ahead of the told before she went on was delivered by Senate tion Haley — a message
her hawkishness on other curve” and he added, television. Treasury Secre- Majority Leader Mitch Mc- meant for the ambassa-
occasions has been ap- “She’s a very effective am- tary Steve Mnuchin further Connell after he tried to dor herself — to a number
preciated by the president, bassador, but there might muddled the narrative silence Warren on the Sen- of journalists. Among the
who has allowed her to have been some momen- Thursday when he told Fox ate floor last year. headlines highlighted, one
reprimand Moscow while tary confusion about that.” Business Network that the “I feel sorry for Nikki Haley,” cited MSNBC “Morning
he works toward a friend- The next day, Haley hit administration “refined the said former Secretary of Joe” host Joe Scarborough
ship with Russian President back, releasing a state- strategy after Nikki made State Madeline Albright. and read, “Scarborough:
Vladimir Putin. ment to Fox News that that announcement.” “She has been very tough Nikki Haley would beat
That dynamic broke down read: “With all due respect, He said, “She wasn’t left up there making points. She Donald Trump if she ran in
this week. Trump was an- I don’t get confused.” twisting in the wind, this was makes very clear that she’s 2020 GOP primary.”q