UN Ambassador Post Filled After Eight-Month Vacancy in Trump Cabinet

Washington D.C. – The critical U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations position, which had remained vacant for eight and a half months, was filled in September 2019 with the Senate confirmation of Kelly Craft. The vacancy, which followed the departure of Nikki Haley at the end of 2018, was noted by journalist Farnoush Amiri as the "last vacant position in Trump’s cabinet" at that time.

Ambassador Craft, previously the U.S. Ambassador to Canada, was approved by a 56-34 Senate vote. Her confirmation ended a prolonged period where Jonathan Cohen served as the acting U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, a role he held since January 1, 2019. The delay in filling the high-profile diplomatic post had drawn scrutiny, particularly during a period of significant international challenges.

The U.S. Ambassador to the UN is a key role, responsible for representing American interests on the Security Council and other UN bodies. While the position's cabinet-level status has varied across administrations, it was considered a cabinet-level appointment during Nikki Haley's tenure and was often referred to as such during Craft's confirmation process, underscoring its importance to the administration's foreign policy. Craft's appointment completed the roster of the Trump administration's key ambassadorial roles to international organizations.