Sen. Bob Menendez
Robert (Bob) MenendezTrump appointee sparks bipartisan furor for politicizing media agency Senate Democrats hold talkathon to protest Barrett's Supreme Court nomination Watchdog confirms State Dept. canceled award for journalist who criticized Trump MORE (D-N.J.), the ranking Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, on Tuesday is raising concerns about what he called the "leadership vacuum" that will be left behind following Nikki Haley
Nimrata (Nikki) HaleyGraham says SC people of color can go anywhere in the state but 'need to be conservative, not liberal' 'The soul' versus 'law and order' Author Ryan Girdusky: RNC worked best when highlighting 'regular people' as opposed to 'standard Republicans' MORE's resignation as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
"Today’s announcement that Ambassador Haley is resigning is yet another sign of the Trump Administration’s chaotic foreign policy," Menendez, a vocal critic of the Trump administration, said in a statement on Tuesday.
"I am deeply concerned about the leadership vacuum she leaves and the national security impact of her departure at this time of continued disarray for this Administration," he added.
President Trump
Donald John TrumpGiuliani goes off on Fox Business host after she compares him to Christopher Steele Trump looks to shore up support in Nebraska NYT: Trump had 7 million in debt mostly tied to Chicago project forgiven MORE announced earlier Tuesday that Haley would leave at the end of the year, emphasizing that her departure was on good terms.
She did not say what she is planning to do next but sought to quash rumors about a possible 2020 run, saying she will campaign for Trump.
President Trump: "At the end of the year Nikki will be leaving."@NikkiHaley: "It has been an honor of a lifetime. I said I'm such a lucky girl to have been able to lead the state that raised me and to serve a country I love so very much." pic.twitter.com/WUI4BvONJ3
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 9, 2018
Haley's departure was lamented by a number of Washington officials.
Speaker Paul Ryan
Paul Davis RyanMcCarthy faces pushback from anxious Republicans over interview comments Pelosi and Trump go a full year without speaking Jordan vows to back McCarthy as leader even if House loses more GOP seats MORE (R-Wis.) said after Haley's announcement that he was "saddened" to hear of her exit but added that he has been "grateful for her service."
“I want to thank Ambassador Haley for her willingness to express moral clarity to the world and to President Trump, and promote American values and leadership on the global stage, even when she lacked the backing of the White House or State Department," Menendez wrote in the statement.
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen
Cynthia (Jeanne) Jeanne ShaheenTrump makes rare campaign stops in New England in closing stretch GOP coronavirus bill blocked as deal remains elusive Justice indicts two members of ISIS 'Beatles' cell MORE (D-N.H.), who is also on the Foreign Relations Committee, said in a statement to The Hill that she hopes the next nominee will be "experienced" and will understand "the significance of the United Nations as an institution."
“I thank Ambassador Haley for her service and wish her well in her future endeavors,” Shaheen said. “As President Trump considers his next nominee for this position, it’s imperative that he names someone who is experienced and understands the significance of the United Nations as an institution, as well as its mission to promote and maintain peace and security around the world."
Haley in a September op-ed for The Washington Post criticized the author of an anonymous New York Times op-ed by a senior administration official claiming to be part of the "resistance" from inside of the Trump administration.
"I, too, am a senior Trump administration official," she wrote. "I proudly serve in this administration, and I enthusiastically support most of its decisions and the direction it is taking the country."
"But I don’t agree with the president on everything," Haley added. "When there is disagreement, there is a right way and a wrong way to address it. I pick up the phone and call him or meet with him in person."
--Updated at 1:43 p.m.
