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Top GOP senator needs to know more about Trump’s UN pick

December 9, 2018 GMT

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FILE - In this Aug. 9, 2017, file photo, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert speaks during a briefing at the State Department in Washington. President Donald Trump is expected to nominate Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trump’s plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning, Dec. 7, 2018. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

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WASHINGTON (AP) — A leading Republican senator on foreign policy issues says he doesn’t yet know whether President Donald Trump’s pick to be U.N. ambassador has the expertise and background to capably handle the job.

Trump wants former Fox News reporter and current State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert (NOW’-urt) to replace Nikki Haley as ambassador. Nauert had little foreign policy experience before taking the State Department post.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee would consider Nauert’s nomination, and one committee member, GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, tells CBS’ “Face the Nation” that “I most certainly think she has the ability to do the job well.”

But he adds, he first wants to meet with Nauert and have her testify before he decides whether to support her.

“Does she have detailed knowledge of foreign policy to a level that will allow her to be successful at the United Nations? I don’t know.”