Nikki Haley says she used Trump ‘being unpredictable’ to U.S. advantage in diplomatic negotiations

Outgoing U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said one of the weapons in her diplomatic arsenal was President Donald Trump’s ‘unpredictable’ nature and that she would call him to have him ‘ratchet up the rhetoric’ when she needed extra fire power. 

‘We partnered,’ Haley told NBC’s ‘Today Show’ in an interview that aired Wednesday.

‘He would, like, ratchet up the rhetoric and I would go back to the ambassadors and say, you know, he’s pretty upset. I can’t promise you what he’s going to do or not. But I tell you if we do these sanctions, it will keep him from going too far,’ she added.

Outgoing U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley said one of the weapons in her diplomatic arsenal was President Donald Trump’s ‘unpredictable’ nature

She said she got her job done by letting President Donald Trump be 'unpredictable'

She said she got her job done by letting President Donald Trump be ‘unpredictable’

Asked if she used a good cop/bad cop approach, Haley responded: ‘I was trying to get the job done. I was being truthful and by letting him be unpredictable and not showing our cards.’

She also said she didn’t get involved in the ‘drama’ around the president’s bombastic twitter habits.

‘I know all of it,’ she said. ‘But I’m disciplined enough to know not to get into the drama.’ 

Haley sat down with NBC to talk about her work at the United Nations as she prepares to leave the job at the end of the year. Trump is nominating State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert, a former Fox News anchor, to replace her.

The wide-ranging interview covered American-Russian relations, U.S.-Saudi relations in the wake of the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and how she managed her relationship with Trump.

Speculation has flown as to why Haley is leaving the plum position, which comes with a posh New York apartment, a staff, and ambassador-level status. 

She has hung on well in an administration that has seen one of highest rates of staff turnover. She has a good relationship with Trump, who has turned on former favorites in the past. And she has good ties with Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, an important survival skill in Trump world.

Haley, who served as South Carolina’s governor, dismissed talk she’s considering a White House bid of her own.

She said she has ‘no idea’ what she will do next but noted she and her husband Michael have never spoken about a presidential run.

‘A lot of people have talked about what I may be doing in the future. But I can promise you, Michael and I have never talked about running for president, what that would look like, anything like that, because our lives have been such a fun surprise. The only decision I made right now, is I’m looking forward to sleeping in,’ she said.

She also pushed back on the notion she could be exit ahead of any revelations from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation of the administration, which appears to be in its final phase.

‘I have not had any time to even pay attention to the Mueller investigation,’ she said. 

She added: ‘I have tuned it out. I can’t do anything about it. The one thing I’ve said publicly and I strongly believe, is I think the investigation, if it’s going forward, should go forward but they need to hurry up, for the good of the country. They need to hurry up and let us know what they know.’  

Haley also talked about what it’s like working with Trump and noted the ‘secret’ it is honesty.  

‘Being honest with myself and being honest with him,’ she said. 

She went on to explain what she meant by ‘honesty’: ‘To tell him when I think we’re going in the right direction or I think we’re going in the wrong direction. And him being willing to listen to that and discuss it, has been hugely helpful.’    

In the interview, she also addressed one of the United States’ more delicate diplomatic issues: the killing of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the American-Saudi Arabia relationship in its fallout.

‘I think we need to have a serious, hard talk with the Saudis to let them know we won’t condone this, we won’t give you a pass and don’t do this again and then I think that the administrations have to talk about where we go from here,’ she said.

Then she repeated an argument President Trump has used repeatedly – that Saudi Arabia is a strong U.S. ally.

Haley defended Jared Kushner, who she is close to; She's seen here with Kushner in Ivanka Trump in the Oval Office on the day she announced she was leaving the administration

Haley defended Jared Kushner, who she is close to; She’s seen here with Kushner in Ivanka Trump in the Oval Office on the day she announced she was leaving the administration

Haley talked about a wide range of issues in her exit interview

Haley talked about a wide range of issues in her exit interview

Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman

Jamal Khashoggi

Nikki Haley  broke with President Trump and made it clear she sees Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman (left) as responsible for Jamal Khashoggi’s (right) murder

‘What I can tell you that’s so important is that the Saudis have been our partner in defeating and dealing with Iran and that has been hugely important,’ she said.

Haley also defended Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and adviser. Kushner has a close relationship with Saudi Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne. 

U.S. intelligence agencies believe there is a strong indication MBS – the prince is known by his initials – ordered the killing of Khashoggi, who was critical of him. 

Trump has defended the prince, saying there is no proof either way, a stance that some claim is the result of Kushner’s close relationship with the Saudi royal. 

Haley dismissed that.  

‘In reference to Jared, I mean those rumors fly all the time,’ she said. ‘We have relationships with lots of countries and our goal is to make those relationships better. But when these things happen, we have to step back and never back away from our principles.’

And she made it clear the MBS is responsible – a direct contradiction to the president. 

‘It was the Saudi government, and MBS is the head of the Saudi government,’ she said. ‘So they are all responsible, and they don’t get a pass, not an individual, not the government – they don’t get a pass.’ 

She was also asked if Russia a ‘friend or foe?’ 

‘Depends on the day,’ she replied.

She said she was ‘critical’ of Moscow when ‘it’s warranted.’ 

She specifically cited concerns about Russia’s seizure of three Ukrainian ships and the poisoning of former Russian military officer Sergei Viktorovich Skripal and his daughter Yulia. 

‘The United States wants a relationship with Russia. But as long as they keep doing the actions that they’re doing, they’re making it impossible,’ she said.

 

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