President-elect Donald Trump announced in November that he will appoint Nikki Haley, “a great leader”, to be the United States ambassador to the United Nations, a cabinet-rank position, marking a historic breakthrough for Indian Americans in politics. Announcing the appointment, Trump said, “She will be a great leader representing us on the world stage.”

As the Permanent Representative to the UN, Haley will be the first woman and PIO appointed to a high-level post in Trump’s incoming administration. In the US, the UN ambassadorship carries a cabinet rank, although the Permanent Representative does not figure in the line of succession to the presidency, where the Secretary of State takes precedence. “Governor Haley has a proven track record of bringing people together regardless of background or party affiliation to move critical policies forward for the betterment of her state and our country,” he added. “She is also a proven dealmaker, and we look to be making plenty of deals.”