Trump's UN envoy Haley resigns, rules out 2020 run for office

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UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who abruptly announced her departure on Tuesday, has knocked down speculations that she might challenge US President Donald Trump in 2020 presidential elections.

A former governor of South Carolina and the daughter of Indian immigrants, Haley, 46, is the highest profile woman in Trump's Cabinet and has often been seen as a possible presidential candidate.

Haley said in her resignation letter to Trump that she would "surely not be a candidate for any office in 2020" and would instead support his re-election bid. She referred to returning to the private sector and some media reports said she had debts to pay off.

US President Donald Trump talks to reporters about a possible replacement for outgoing US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at the White House in Washington, DC, October 9, 2018. /VCG Photo

Meeting Haley in the Oval Office, Trump said she had done a "fantastic job" and would stay on to the end of the year.

Trump said Haley had told him six months ago that she was thinking of leaving by the end the year "to take a little time off."

A successor will be named "in the next two or three weeks," he added.

Speaking to reporters later on Tuesday aboard Air Force One, Trump said he had five people on his short list for UN envoy, including former White House adviser Dina Powell, a friend of Haley's. Trump said that US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, was not on the shortlist but that he was willing to consider him.

Trump's eldest daughter Ivanka Trump, who is a senior adviser to her father, ruled herself out of consideration in a Twitter post. He had said she would be "incredible" in the role and acknowledged that he would be accused of nepotism if he nominated her.

(With inputs from Reuters, AFP)