Senate confirms Kelly Craft as US envoy to UN

Ambassador to Canada to succeed Nikki Haley at world body, ending seven month vacancy, after vowing to take up pro-Israel baton; Israel praises pick

Kelly Craft, President Trump's nominee to be Representative to the United Nations, testifies at her nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 19, 2019 in Washington, DC.  (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images/AFP)
Kelly Craft, President Trump's nominee to be Representative to the United Nations, testifies at her nomination hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on June 19, 2019 in Washington, DC. (Stefani Reynolds/Getty Images/AFP)

WASHINGTON — The Senate has confirmed Kelly Craft to become the next US. envoy to the United Nations despite Democratic concerns about her inexperience and potential conflicts of interest.

Craft, a longtime GOP activist from Kentucky, is currently US ambassador to Canada. She was confirmed 56-34, ending a more than seven-month vacancy in the key diplomatic position.

She and her husband, Joe Craft, have donated millions of dollars to Republican political candidates, and she will be first major political donor to occupy the top UN post for any administration. Joe Craft is the chief executive of Alliance Resource Partners, one of the largest coal producers in the country.

In her confirmation hearing, Craft vowed to continue the efforts of Trump’s first ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, to push for reform at the world body and to fight against anti-Israel resolutions and actions by the United Nations and its affiliated agencies. During Haley’s tenure, the administration withdrew from the UN Human Rights Council and the UN educational and scientific agency for adopting positions it deemed to be hostile to Israel.

Outgoing Israeli ambassador to the UN Danny Danon praised the confirmation of Craft late Wednesday.

“I look forward to welcoming her to Turtle Bay, and continuing to build upon the great achievements of the United States and Israel,” Danon said in a statement.

Trump nominated Craft to replace Haley after his first choice for the job, former State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert, withdrew from consideration. Haley stepped down from the post in December.

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley speaks at a UN Security Council Meeting on the Middle East on November 19, 2018. (UN/Rick Bajornas)

Democrats criticized Craft at the hearing for previous remarks she had made doubting the causes and severity of climate change and suggesting that climate change skeptics have valid arguments. They were also concerned about possible conflicts of interest as she holds extensive investments in fossil fuels.

Craft said at the hearing that she acknowledges the “vast amount of science” regarding climate change and the role humans have played.

“If confirmed, I will be an advocate for addressing climate change,” she said.

The Democrats have also expressed concerns about her time away from Canada during her tenure as ambassador. Craft testified that all of her travel had been approved in advance by the State Department, that much of it was work-related and that she and her husband had paid for all personal trips.

A report issued by the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, just before the vote called Craft “inexperienced,” ”unknowledgeable” and “outmatched.” The report said Craft’s “lack of diplomatic or substantive policy experience” could threaten her ability to forcefully represent and defend US national interests against other powerful nations.

US President Donald Trump attends a meeting on the global drug problem at the United Nations with UN Ambassador Nikki Haley on September 24, 2018 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP)

“Never in our nation’s history have we nominated such an underqualified person to this critical post,” said Menendez.

Republicans, including her home-state senator, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, came to her defense.

“During her tenure as ambassador to Canada, America’s relationship with our northern neighbor was tested,” McConnell said in a floor speech before the vote. “A number of challenging policy hurdles threatened to trip up progress on several important issues, including trade negotiations. But by all accounts, Ambassador Craft’s involvement led to greater cooperation.”

As ambassador, Craft played a role in facilitating the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, Trump’s long-sought revamp of the North American Free Trade Agreement.

It was also a low point in relations between the two counties. Last year, Trump called Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau weak and dishonest, words that shocked Canadians.

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