Dem senator slams Nauert’s lack of ‘qualifications’ for UN ambassador

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) sharply criticized President Trump’s selection of State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to succeed Nikki Haley as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations on Friday.

Hirono questioned Nauert’s qualifications and said she would have “difficulty” supporting her to be America’s top representative at the U.N. in an interview on CNN’s “New Day” with host John Berman.

{mosads}”I would have difficulty because there are those of us that care about people’s experience and qualifications,” Hirono said. “I do not know that being loyal to the president is the uppermost qualification. It is for the president, but it isn’t for me.”

William Barr and Heather Nauert are Trump’s top choices for attorney general and UN ambassador, sources say.

Sen. @maziehirono: “I do not know that being loyal to the President is the uppermost qualification. It is for the President, but it isn’t for me.” https://t.co/jMmKwdkdii pic.twitter.com/SHQQtdckqY

— New Day (@NewDay) December 7, 2018

Trump officially tapped Nauert on Friday after weeks of speculation.

“Heather Nauert will be nominated for the ambassador to the United Nations,” the president said Friday.

His selection of Nauert would elevate the Fox News alum, who has no government experience other than her tenure as State Department spokeswoman, to a high-profile public position.