Timeline of significant events during Nikki Haley's tenure as UN envoy

Nikki Haley, the first woman governor of South Carolina and the second Indian-American governor in the United States, is now leaving her post as the US ambassador to the United Nations. 

Although she had no prior experience in the field of international relations, she became a well-known diplomat after US President Donald Trump announced her designation as the US ambassador in November 2016. 

During her two-year tenure at the UN, Haley has made remarks against those who opposed the US agenda at the international forum. 

Haley was most temperamental when the subject of Israel came up since the Zionist nation has enjoyed blind and endless support from the US during the Trump presidency. 

Here are some of the remarkable events she will be remembered for:

March 30, 2017

Haley defended President Donald Trump's executive order banning immigration from six Muslim-majority countries, saying it is meant to keep the country safe and not against any religion. 

However before joining the Trump administration, she had taken a pro-immigrant stance especially against any travel ban on the basis of religion.

June 7, 2017

She threatened US withdrawal from the Human Rights Council, accusing it of "hypocrisy" and being "anti-Israel." 

The threat, which the Trump administration had maintained for months, followed the call for an investigation by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights into Israel killing civilians with warplanes. 

Her threat was not empty because the US made the move after one year in June 2018. 

December 7, 2017

Haley reversed the statement she had made before the US Congress that Qatar was funding Hamas.

Earlier on June 28, Haley had claimed that Qatar was “funding Hamas” during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

December 18, 2017

She described a UN security council resolution calling for the withdrawal of Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, as an insult, saying the US won’t be told where it can put its embassy.

The resolution was backed by every UNSC member except the US, which used its veto.

December 20, 2017

Haley threatened the countries that voted to reject Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, saying she would be taking names of those countries.

January 18, 2018

Haley told African envoys that Africa is important to the United States, and expressed regret over the controversy surrounding Donald Trump's comments referring to African nations and Haiti as "shithole countries."

Trump later denied making the remark, as most world leaders expressed outrage over it.

May 15, 2018

She strongly defended Israel in its response to peaceful demonstrations at the Gaza border, saying no other country in the chamber would act with more restraint than the Jewish state.

Israeli forces killed more than 50 Palestinian civilians, most of whom were unarmed and protesting peacefully, a day before she made her remarks. 

August 28, 2018

Haley questioned Palestinian claims to a “right of return” to modern Israel, saying she believed that the hot button issue should be taken “off the table.”

She also criticised US support of UNRWA saying, “First of all, you’re looking at the fact that, yes, there’s an endless number of refugees that continue to get assistance, but more importantly, the Palestinians continue to bash America.”

Three days later the US cut its $350 million funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) that provided aid to Palestinian refugees.

September 7, 2018

Haley slammed an anonymous Trump official who wrote an opinion piece, “I’m Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration” in the New York Times, saying many senior officials in Trump’s administration have been working from within to frustrate parts of his agenda to protect the country from his worst impulses. 

Haley, who had proved to be a popular politician long before her diplomatic career, also opposed domestic criticism of Donald Trump during her post.