Sen. Cotton says he’s not on short list for UN Ambassador

United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley’s announced departure leaves President Donald Trump with a post to fill that requires international diplomacy.

U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., a leading Republican voice on foreign affairs, says he’s offered his advice to the president about the position.

“I’ve spoken to the president since Ambassador Haley made her announcement. He has a short list, but he’s walking through. She’s going to be serving until the end of the year, so he’s not in a rush to make a decision. He wants to get a correct decision, not a fast decision,” said Cotton in a Talk Business & Politics interview on Wednesday evening.

In a surprising announcement on Monday, Haley said she would be stepping down from the high profile post by year’s end. She is a former South Carolina governor and legislator and is considered a future GOP Presidential prospect.

When Cotton was asked if he was a candidate for UN Ambassador, he said he was not.

“No. I’m definitely not on that list,” he said. “I don’t want to get into what the president and I discussed about it, but we have many, very capable diplomats or national security professionals who could take that job over and I know the president’s going to be interviewing them in the coming days, as will Secretary Pompeo. I’m sure they’ll make a good decision. We’ll look forward to confirming that person in the senate.”

Cotton also discussed the Brett Kavanaugh Supreme Court confirmation, the midterm elections and what remains on the Senate calendar this fall.

His full interview will air Sunday on Talk Business & Politics statewide.