Trump announces picks for new AG and UN Ambassador

Washington D.C., Dec 7, 2018 / 15:00 pm

President Donald Trump announced Friday his nominations for the positions of U.S. Attorney General and Ambassador to the United Nations.

Trump will nominate William Barr to be the next attorney general of the United States. Barr will replace Matthew Whitaker, who has served in the role on an acting basis since the resignation of Jeff Sessions in early November.

On Twitter, President Trump said that he was "pleased to announce" Barr's nomination, calling him "one of the most highly respected and legal minds in the Country [sic]," and "a great addition" to the administration.

Barr previously held the post of attorney general under President George H.W. Bush from November of 1991 until January 20, 1993. Prior to that, he served as deputy attorney general and assistant attorney general for the Office of Legal Counsel.

After leaving the White House in 1993, Barr worked in private practice. Most recently, he was with the firm Kirkland & Ellis. A practicing Catholic, he a graduate of Columbia University and George Washington University law school.

Reaction to Barr's nomination were largely positive, with support for the pick coming from members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, indicating a potentially smoother confirmation process in the Senate than other recent Trump nominations.

According to C-SPAN footage of Barr's Senate confirmation in 1991, he was unanimously approved by voice vote. Among his supporters was then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), who said that Barr was "throwback to the days when we actually used to have attorneys general who would talk to you and cooperate with you."

The pro-life organization Americans United for Life told CNA that they were pleased with Trump's pick, in part because of his opposition to abortion.

"Mr. Barr is a strong supporter of the right to Life, and is committed to the rule of law for all persons," said AUL. They noted that when Barr was questioned during his initial hearings in 1991, he elaborated that he thought that the decision reached in Roe v. Wade was not the "right opinion" as it took power away from the states.

Trump also announced the nomination of State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert to replace outgoing United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, who will be leaving her role at the end of the year.

"I want to congratulate Heather, and thank Ambassador Nikki Haley for her great service to our Country!" tweeted Trump.

Nauert has a journalism background and worked as a broadcaster prior to joining the Department of State in 2017.

Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback, offered praise for Nauert's nomination. Brownback called Nauert a "staunch defender of Israel and religious freedom" and said that she was a "great pick for UN Ambassador."