President Donald Trump announced on Friday that he will be nominating Kelly Knight Craft, the current U.S. ambassador to Canada, to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
"I am pleased to announce that Kelly Knight Craft, our current Ambassador to Canada, is being nominated to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations," Trump wrote on Twitter.
"Kelly has done an outstanding job representing our Nation and I have no doubt that, under her leadership, our Country will be represented at the highest level," the U.S. leader added in a second tweet. "Congratulations to Kelly and her entire family!"
I am pleased to announce that Kelly Knight Craft, our current Ambassador to Canada, is being nominated to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 22, 2019
Trump's announcement comes just a week after State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert withdrew her candidacy for the role after the president initially nominated her.
If appointed, Knight Craft would be replacing former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who announced on Oct. 9, 2018 that she would be resigning from the role at the end of the year.
On Friday, Haley congratulated Knight Craft over Twitter, writing: "Congratulations to Kelly Craft. She's done a great job representing us as @USAmbCanada and we know she'll be a strong voice for America at the United Nations. #USstrong."
In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Knight Craft "has been an outstanding advocate for America's national security and economic interests in Canada and she is extremely well-qualified to do the same at the United Nations."
Trump's announcement of Knight Craft's nomination comes a week after his first pick to replace Haley, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, withdrew her candidacy, citing family reasons.
Knight Craft, 56, was nominated to serve as ambassador to Canada by Trump in 2017 and is the first woman to hold the post.
She had previously served as an alternate delegate to the U.N. during President George W. Bush's administration.
As ambassador to Canada, Knight Craft had been a strong supporter of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was championed by Trump as a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
She faced early scrutiny, however, after she told the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation that she believed scientists on "both sides" of the climate change debate.
"I think that both sides have their own results, from their studies, and I appreciate and I respect both sides of the science," Knight Craft had said.
According to Open Secrets, a non-profit group tracking political contributions, Knight Craft's husband, Joe Craft, who is president of coal producer Alliance Resource Partners, donated $1 million to Trump's 2017 inauguration fund.
He also donated $371,100 to Republican candidates during the 2018 election cycle, according to Open Secrets.
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