Trump to pick Fox News ex-anchor Heather Nauert as UN envoy, replacing 'pro-Israel' Nikki Haley

President Donald Trump is expected on Friday to nominate State Department spokeswoman and former Fox TV news anchor Heather Nauert as US ambassador to the United Nations, according to multiple reports.

If confirmed by the Senate, she would take over from Nikki Haley, who announced her resignation in October without offering details on why.

Reports in US media said Nauert would be nominated on Friday, citing sources close to the matter.

Nauert, 48, has been touted for the post since November.

Trump told reporters last month the former Fox News anchor was "under very serious consideration."

He added: "She's excellent, she's been with us a long time, she's been a supporter for a long time, really -- excellent."

Nauert joined the State Department in April 2017.

She has served under two secretaries of state -- Rex Tillerson and her current boss Mike Pompeo -- and was designated acting under-secretary for public diplomacy and public affairs from March to October 2018.

Haley similarly had little foreign policy experience when appointed, although she had a national name as the governor of South Carolina.

Nauert's appointment would reinforce the link between Fox News and Trump, who has been accused of turning to the conservative-leaning channel, rather than experts, for policy advice.

If confirmed, she would be replacing staunch pro-Israeli outgoing envoy Nikki Haley.

Haley rattled the United Nations when she arrived in January 2017 vowing that the United States will be "taking names" of countries that oppose President Donald Trump's foreign policy.

Throughout her post, Haley was routinely lambasted for her stance on human rights and has consistently voted against UN measures critical of Israel.

On Thursday, Haley made her farewell gesture at the UN by pushing for another pro-Israel measure condemning Palestinian group Hamas.

The measure has failed to pass.

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