Four names emerge for UN position: report

The White House has narrowed down its search for the next United Nations ambassador to four names, according to Bloomberg.

Potential nominees include Dina Powell, a partner at Goldman Sachs; Kelly Craft and Richard Grenell, the current ambassadors to Canada and Germany, respectively; and John James, a former GOP Senate candidate from Michigan, sources told the news service.

{mosads}The new list of candidates come after State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert withdrew her nomination for the post over the weekend. Nauert, who was reportedly favored by President Trump, was to replace former Ambassador Nikki Haley in the job. Her decision to withdraw followed reports that she once employed a nanny who wasn’t authorized to work in the U.S.

Both Powell and Craft are well-connected within the Trump administration. Powell previously served as Trump’s deputy national security adviser, while Craft is married to billionaire Joe Craft, a Republican fundraiser and coal executive.

James, who ran for a Michigan Senate seat but fell short in his attempt to unseat Democrat Sen. Debbie Stabenow, is also well-liked within administration’s circles and has been considered for other jobs, according to Bloomberg.

Trump’s elder daughter Ivanka Trump is another name that has been floated as a potential candidate for the position. Sources told Bloomberg that she is still being considered as a backup candidate if no front-runner emerges.