Merkley critical of Nauert pick as U.N. ambassador

Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., released the following statement Friday after President Trump announced that he would nominate Heather Nauert, a former Fox News host appointed last year to be spokesperson at the State Department, to serve as Ambassador to the United Nations.

Merkley serves as the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Multilateral Institutions Subcommittee, which oversees the United States’ relationship with the UN.

“Ambassador to the UN is a pivotal role, which has been previously held by individuals with deep international affairs knowledge, political leadership, or diplomatic experience.

“Ms. Nauert has none of the above.

“Unquestioned loyalty to President Trump and experience as an anchor on President Trump’s favorite cable news network are – clearly – not sufficient qualifications.

“Ms. Nauert will have to answer questions about whether her background is the right one for this job, one that requires tough negotiations and speaking truth to power both in front of the camera and in closed rooms.

“When I meet with Ms. Nauert, I will want to hear directly whether she is committed to restoring U.S. leadership in tackling global challenges–from climate chaos, to poverty and refugee crises, to the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”