Trump names former critic Nikki Haley as UN envoy, US media reports

US President-elect Donald Trump has chosen South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, the daughter of immigrants from India who has little international experience, to be US ambassador to the United Nations, The Post and Courier newspaper and other media reported on Wednesday.

The 44-year-old governor has accepted the offer, the Charleston, South Carolina, newspaper reported, citing unidentified sources. This would make the outspoken Trump critic, the President-elect’s first female – and first non-white – cabinet-level official if the appointment is confirmed by the Senate. 

Born Nimrata "Nikki" Randhawa, Haley is the first minority and female governor of South Carolina, a deeply conservative state with a long history of racial strife. She took a public stand against resettling Syrian refugees in South Carolina and also opposed President Barack Obama's signature healthcare law. Earlier this month, Haley was elected vice chair of the Republican Governors Association, paving the way to becoming chairman of the group in 2018.

The choice of Haley, who reportedly embraces tolerance, may be aimed at offsetting Trump's divisive comments about immigrants and minorities, as well as accusations of sexism during his campaign for the 8 November election in which he defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Haley condemned Trump during the Republican presidential primary campaign for not speaking out more forcefully against white supremacists, and supported Trump’s rivals Marco Rubio and then Ted Cruz in the Republican primary before saying last month she would vote for Trump despite reservations about his character.

Haley met the president-elect last week and said they had a “very nice” conversation.

Haley’s new job clears the way for Lieutenant Governor Henry McMaster to step into the role of South Carolina governor. McMaster was an early Trump endorser, backing him before the state’s Republican primary in February.