Recently appointed former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley has generally avoided creating controversy since taking on her position under the Trump Administration. That is, until now—just a few days ago, Haley suddenly put her own views on a number of disputed topics front and center.
Towards the end of last week, Haley spoke to Fox News and directly criticized the Obama administration for implementing the Iran nuclear deal and supporting the Paris climate agreement, among other things. While she stated that President Donald Trump had given her the green light to express her opinion, her comments stirred up more discussion than the typically diplomatic Haley has been known for in the past.
In the interview, Haley also spoke positively of Trump’s new foreign policy strategy in regard to Syria, North Korea, and Iran. She stated that the president’s “clear direction” when dealing with foreign threats is of great value. While Haley tried to make it clear that she does not oppose all decisions that the Obama Administration made, she affirmed her support for Trump’s direction in a number of other areas.
The topic of Russia’s possible interference in the US election also came up during the interview. Although Haley tried to be diplomatic in her response, she explained that the US will take whatever necessary steps to protect itself from future attacks, and emphasized the importance of proper defense mechanisms.
Haley’s comments about controversial topics raised many eyebrows, especially since she had previously steered clear of them. Whether or not Haley’s remarks were simply her own opinion or part of an official line is up for debate. Whatever the case may be, the US looks to have an ambassador who is willing and able to speak her mind—for better or worse.
“Nikki Haley: Silence No More!
