Dina Powell Withdraws From Consideration for U.N. Ambassador

Dina Powell, one of President Trump’s top picks to succeed Nikki Haley as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has withdrawn her name from contention, according to multiple reports. Sources cited by The Wall Street Journal late Thursday said Powell, who served as deputy national security adviser during Trump’s first year in office, had informed the president of her decision by phone Thursday. She reportedly cited a desire to remain close to her children as the reason for her decision. Powell’s withdrawal reportedly came as Trump’s aides frantically search for a woman to replace Haley in a bid to boost the president’s approval ratings with women voters ahead of midterm elections. “The political shop thinks it’s very important to announce a woman before Election Day because of the president’s approval rating and the Kavanaugh stuff,” one White House source was quoted as saying by Politico.