Trump says Ivanka would be a "dynamite" replacement for Nikki Haley; Ivanka declines

Contrary to what Trump hinted at, Ivanka tweeted "that replacement will not be me”.

Ivanka Trump/ Photo: AFP

New Delhi: As Nikki Haley’s timing of resignation from the post of US ambassador to the United Nations raises many eyebrows, President Donald Trump signalled that his daughter Ivanka Trump could be a “dynamite replacement”. However, Ivanka Trump has declined the suggestion made by her father that she could make a “dynamite” replacement at the United Nations - were it not for nepotism concerns. Quashing the suggestion, Ivanka tweeted that it is an honour for her to serve in the White House alongside so many colleagues. She said she knows that the President will nominate a formidable replacement for Ambassador Haley. “That replacement will not be me”, she tweeted. Her reply came hours after Trump had hinted that Ivanka could be a replacement for Haley but then he would be accused of nepotism. As he heaped praise on Haley's performance during her tenure as the envoy to the world body, he said many people would like to replace her.  Trump said that he expects to name a replacement for Haley in the next "two to three weeks," and said that he would be talking about candidates with the former South Carolina governor and others. The US president described his second child as "dynamite". Trump said his daughter Ivanka would make an "incredible" ambassador to the UN. "The people that know - it's nothing to do with nepotism. But I want to tell you: The people that know, know that Ivanka would be dynamite. But, you know, I'd then be accused of nepotism, if you can believe it," he said. "I think Ivanka would be incredible. That doesn't mean I'd pick her, because you'd be accused of nepotism, even though I'm not sure there's anybody more competent in the world. But that's okay," Trump said in response to a question. Haley while discussing her resignation at the Oval Office had praised Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner both of who presidential advisers. The speculation about Ivanka replacing Haley had begun since then. "I can't say enough good things about Jared and Ivanka," she said. “Jared is such a hidden genius that no one understands. Ivanka has just been a great friend. They do a lot of things behind the scenes that I wish more people knew about because we are a better country because they're in the administration," Haley said. (With inputs from PTI)