Its call ed sister hood. Its how you see it. Its to encourage women to speak up about what they believe in. Please watch this. It is extraordinary. You can look it up online. It is amazinamazing, and if you looking for something to inspire you, turn to the girls who code. That wraps up this hour. Im stephanie ruhle. You can find me all day on twitter. Coming up more news with hallie jackson. Thank you so much. Im hallie jackson. The court is in session with a new face on the bench. With election day now exactly four weeks away, the president clearly hoping for a brett bounce as he hits the Campaign Trail today with the republicans repeating one phrase, mob tactics to fire up their base against democrats, but that
party is already fired up. Plus, polling just out shows more female voters not so hot on the gop. And our lester holt in the Lone Star State with the two stars in a key race there. This star, ted cruz, and the congressman trying to unseat him, beta orourke. We have a more Conservative Court than weve seen in decades, a win that the president has taken on the road with him. Lets start with my colleague jeff bennett over at the white house. President trump is getting ready to take his extended victory lap today. Our Peter Alexander will be covering him. And the president is tweeting already, trying to keep his base fired up for this brett bounce. Youre right about that, hallie. Yeah, today, the president heads
to council bluffs, iowa, where hes going to anoung Brett Kavanaugh but also talk about fuel. Friday he heads to lebanon, ohio, to boost a senate bid and then he winds things up on saturday in richmond, kentucky. All of that coming after last nights purely ceremonial made for tv swearingin of Brett Kavanaugh. Look. Instead of the president moving beyond the Sexual Assault allegations made against Brett Kavanaugh, President Trump leaned in. He declared Brett Kavanaugh innocent. Take a look at what he had to say last night. On behalf of our nation, i want to apologize to brett and the entire kavanaugh family for the terrible pain and suffering you have been forced to endure. Our country, a man or a woman, must always be presumed innocent
unless and until Proven Guilty. And with that, i must state that you, sir, under historic scrutiny, were proven innocent. Thank you. The truth is that kavanaugh was not Proven Guilty or innocent. The fbi could not corroborate Christine Blasey fords claims, but they did not say they were false. He believes it reveals something about democrats and the antiBrett Kavanaugh protesters. Do you see it there . Theyre really ready to protest. The republicans are gambling as this comes just in time for evangelicals and conservatists to head to the polls. Weve been seeing protesters for weeks at the capitol, and
now check it out. Moments ago outside the Supreme Court, people chanting, Holding Signs like we do not consent. Theyre chanting kavanaugh not welcome here. The thing is hes all right inside. Peter alexander is there for kavanaughs first day on the job. The court will hear two arguments today on this question about the definition of the armed career criminal acts, specifically what did congress mean when it said you can get a longer sentence if youre a three strikes offender and you commit a violent felony. So these will be his first two arguments that hell hear today. Two more arguments tomorrow. A question obscure question about asbestos and maritime law and another question about the ability of the government to
hold people if theyre serving a sentence for another crime. Perhaps Brett Kavanaugh is lucky the Supreme Court is getting off to a slow term start. The court may be announcing it will take up other controversial questions later in this term. Hallie . Pete williams joining us. On set, our panel nancy cook, jeff mason, white House Counsel for reuters. And kristen, with deference to you, i want to talk about what were hearing. The republican talking point, it seems this morning. You heard this laid out on fox. Watch. Oh, theres simply no doubt the mobs tactics are backfiring pt t. What happens is you have fairminded individuals on the
left, right, and middle. Look at the moblike tactics you played at the beginning and they reject that. The president likes a foil. He seems to find one in the mob of angry democrats as we call it. I think what we found is this whole kavanaugh episode has reenergized republicans. What its done is closed the gap between enthused democrats and enthused republicans. Its not that one side is surging over the other. Its just that both sides are pumped up. I think the question is will that enthusiasm hold. They got what they wanted and will they be able to hold that through the next month or so. And jeff pointed out the extraordinary remarks, jeff other jeff the president took off with the elephant in the east room right waway, coming ot of the gate saying, i issue an apology to Brett Kavanaugh. He wanted to draw attention to that. He wanted people to truly feel sorry for Brett Kavanaugh and certainly did not want to draw any attention to the alleged victim. He wanted to focus on the victimization he feels his Supreme Court has gone through. Its absolutely led to confidence on the republican side. Mitch mcconnell was in the east room last night. People rose and stood and clapped for him. We have that. Let me see if we can play a little bit of it. Thats it. You see Mitch Mcconnell on the bottom of the Screen Walking in to a standing ovation. Mitch mcconnell said not too long before that that democrats with their strategy on this issue had managed the do something republicans had been unable to do and that was to reenergize the republican base. Hillary clinton was out talking about this moment we have seen over the last 18 hours. Heres what we have to say. What was done in the white house last night was a political rally. It further undermined the image and integrity of the court. The integrity of the court is, indeed, in jeopardy. Let me say, i spend a lot of time at the Supreme Court and the protesters that were seen outside the court not there protesting on a particular issue but are, instead, protesting judge kavanaughs presence is telling. One thing we have to remember from last nights fiasco from the white house, Justice Roberts looked down and did not participate in the political celebration going on. Hes one who cares about the integrity of the court and the standing of the court in american democracy. I think all of that is now in jeopardy with judge kavanaughs presence. I expect that sadly well see these protests continue and that sadly the American Public will lose confidence and faith in the work that the Supreme Court is doing. Which is not anybodys goal, right . Both sides of the ill do not want that to happen. The Supreme Court is a third branch for a reason. Its supposed to be impartial. Recusal, you make the point, is going to come up much more than in the past. Explain that. I do. During justice kagans place on the board, she voluntarily dismissed herself. Given this appearance of bias during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary committee, that partisan gerrymandering cases, for example, there will be grave questions about his ability to be impartial. He tried to put that to rest. Heres what he had to say regarding being impartial and fair. Watch. Every american can be assured that ill be an independent and impartial justice. Ill be devoted to equal justice under law. Although the Senate Confirmation process tested me as it has tested others, it did not change me. Look. I think judge kavanaugh needs to recuse himself from particular cases which involve gerrymandering. Those words he says, what goes around, comes around, are words that will loom heavy for parties to be heard. Both parties as we talked about them animating the parties, you look at the dmc, 4. 5 million since september. And the rmc. Clearly its making a difference. It absolutely is. Just as President Trump is trying to create this foil and energize the party on the right, the democrats are completely fired up as kristen and jeff said with the idea that someone was put on the Supreme Court and theres a sense we dont know the full scope of his background. Jeff. Also interesting that the republican spokeswoman you were talking about the senate and not the house. Maybe it is tighter for the democrats to have much hope of winning, but the house is a different story. Were going the talk more about it. Steve kornacki, our boy is joining us. Im going to ask you two to stick around. Kristen, thank you for sticking around. We go to breaking news. Hurricane michael at the florida gulf coast. Bill karins is joining us now with that forecast. What are you seeing . Nothing that we like. The storm is getting stronger, hallie. It still has a chance to get to category 3. Even a slight outside chance of a category 4. Theres not a lot of bells and whistles and alarms going off. We had two categories last year. But this still is a rare event. Weve only had three major hurricanes in the last 13 years hit the soil. This is at 100mileanhour winds. Its heading toward panama city, florida. Lets go over to the update tracker. Well bring you the new update as we go throughout the 11 00 hour on msnbc. They have it as a major category 3. How strong will it be . We know its heading the north florida regardless. This is the eye. You see the thunderstorm tops. The Hurricane Center flew through the center of it. Its not a closed eye, which is
good. It cant strengthen rapidly. The eye is three quarter os the way wrapped around with thunderstorms. Lets hope it stays that way. The storm surge, because of the unique topography, the water gets trapped in the big bend area. The storm surge, 8 to 12 feet. Appalach app alachicola apalachicola, not that big. You see the reporters here. Its getting a little gusty. Lately weve been having a lot of evening landfalls. This is going to be a daylight landfall. Its going happen at 1 00 p. M. Look what happens this afternoon. By the time we get to 6 00 p. M. , the sun should barely be up. Panama city on the backside of this landfall would be 80. Tallahassee, your strongest
winds inland, well up to 108 miles per hour. There are a lot of trees in tallahassee. This would be epic. And the strong evidence winds are in Southern Georgia during the overnight hours, still at 80 miles an hour, which would cause significant Power Problems all throughout Southern Georgia. This isnt going to be like a staal with florence. Well have a potential of a foot near landfall. I to not expect a lot of problems with that, hallie. Well continue to watch this. We have Flooding Problems in the middle of the country. But all eyes are going to be on michael. When is the last time the panhandle got hit by Something Like this . Its been a while. Areas of the panhandle. We have ivan that was in the early 2000s. Its been a while. Its been very rare in october to get hit. This could easily be the strongest storm. A lot of the people from panama
city and apalachicola that theyve ever expense they e theyve ever experienced. I know a lot of the beaches are already empty, but if i had my family and theres know Evacuation Orders for tallahassee or anything like that, but if youre in the tallahassee area, you need to be planning for two weeks without power. If you have a chance to go to a relative some two hours away, id advise it. Let me go back to the white house. My colleague Kristen Welker has breaking news. We just got information from the Press Secretary about an unexpected meeting between President Trump and u. N. Ambassador nikki haley. Whats up . Yes. Sarah sanders announcing that the president and nikki haley will be meeting in about 15 minutes. Thats going to be open press. It means there will be cameras
and reporters allowed inside that meeting. It comes as our colleague Geoff Bennett did spot nikki haley at the white house. She declined to comment why shes here. There are reports she may be resigned. Nbc news has not confirmed that. Were trying to run down those reports. But it seems something significant is happening. Its an unexpected meeting. Now, of course, two were just at the u. N. General assembly together, working on a range of issues, everything from the crisis in north korea to iran, and she has broadly been seen as someone who has the president s trust. Youll recall that after that oped was written in the New York Times in which an anonymous official said that there had been discussions about the 25th Amendment here behind the scenes at the white house, effectively ousting President Trump, nikki haley was the
administration official who came forward in the coming days with her own oped in the Washington Post to underscore the fact that everyone here stands with the president. So obviously theres a great deal of interest in this meeting thats about to unfold at the west wing of the white house. And, again, our colleague Geoff Bennett is working his sources upstairs, trying to talk to folks, trying to get confirmation about what specifically is going to come out of that meeting, hallie. Again, that should happen in the next 13 minutes apparently in the oval office. Just to give our viewers a sense of what we may or may not see, we kmtd go live at the oval office. You wont see that right at the time. Well turn it around and play the tape back for you. I happen to have two of my colleagues setting with me, nancy cook and geoff mason. What have you heard . I think its interesting. Number one, this is somebody whos been loyal to President Trump. There was a time they thought she was getting confused. She responded with a statement saying, with all due respect, i dont get confused. She has been, nonetheless, a very strong supporter of President Trump, but also found a way at the u. N. To show her own voice, which probably preserves a political future for her if she decides to do something outside of the Trump Administration going forward. And so much of this may be about a political future for her. After the midterms are going to start gearing up for 2020, i dont have confirmation of what exactly is happening, but shes been seen as a real contender for higher office. She had a successful tenure as governor of South Carolina and she has ambitions beyond that. I will also say as ambassador to
the u. N. , there were some things she tried to pursue early on that the white house cut her off on. She tried to make human rights an issue early on and they ended up pulling out of the human rights agreement. That was a major focus for President Trump at ton. That was just two weeks ago. If she were going to leave, i feel this would be a natural time to do it. Also worth noting, ifs she announcing her resignation with President Trump, theyre not announcing it as a major break. Its not a firing if theyre doing it in the president s office. Well wait another ten minutes or so whats going to happen. The pretty is doing his thing, The Show Man President , a guy who knows how to right a tease for tv. Theres a big announcement with my friend, he says, Ambassador Nikki Haley in the oval. So signs point to if this is a
resignation to be clear, nbc has not confirmed that Kristen Welker is out on the north lawn. Hes not calling you a friend if hes giving you a boot, is that fair . I think thats entirely fair. It was announced by the Press Secretary, hallie, so clearly theyre not hiding anything. This is something that is out in the open. And, again, were going to see these two sitting together side by side. President trump in the oval office with his u. N. Ambassador will not be carried live. Well try to get it to you as soon as possible. Reporters will be sending out notes undoubtedly. Bug a big announcement suggests that the reporting is accurate. Again, we have not confirmed, but the reporting is shes offer
her resignation. Where does she go next, what are her next steps if that is the case. That will be top of mind for the reporters in that room. If she is to leave, shes been someone who has largely been a staunch reporter. When it came to air strikes, she was very outspoken when it came to that. The policy in sear yarks making it very clear the administration was going to take a tough stand against bashar al assad. She was out on sunday shows touting his agenda. If she were to leave, this would be a shift to the Trump Administration. Lets talk about a couple of
pieces with nancy and geoff who remain in washington. I think were watching old video of u. N. Ambassador nikki haley. We recently saw her on stage at the summit a few weeks ago. She has been somebody whos been important in the Foreign Policy sphere and didnt also get along with the former Secretary Of StateRex Tillerson. Change of tone with mike pompeo. Yes. Also noting she wasnt always a supporter of donald trump. At one time she said the people of her state were embarrassed by donald trump and she responded with her own tweet sayi Sayinsaying Dunl saying donaldtrumpblessyour
heart. They forged a path. It would be different if she left. Under Rex Tillerson, she had much more prominence. Tillerson was a weak Secretary Of State. He didnt have a lot of personnel there. He was taking a long time to come up with a extra teej eck plan, so that gave her a lot of autonomy, perhaps more than she would have. So i feel like shes been a big player. The u. N. Meeting was so much about trump and not so much the white houses policy. It was so much, his policies, america first, much more of an isolationist stand, than shes taken at the u. N. So that was an interesting moment to see that. Were going to be able to report here nikki haley has told her staff that she is going to be resigning, that that is her plan. Thats what we have from nbc news. Thats axio, reuters, New York Times, and politico. It looks like based on our reporting and what others are telling us, nikki haley is stepping away as ambassador of the United Nations. Its a role shes held for years. Where do you see the replacement factor coming in . Yeah. Thats an interesting question. Its been a problem to staff up the way theyve wanted to staff up. Now you have this person playing a prominent role based on our reporting that shes going to step away from the role. Shes probably the most powerful woman in the Trump Administration prior to the time of energizing women going into the midterm elections and the minority and that is also something that the president does not have. He doesnt have a lot of minorities or women representing his cabinet. There was some chatter at one
point that ivanka trump may take over the role. The landscape has changed. Id be curious to see what the short list looks like ahead of the midterms. It seems like the white house is so focused the midterms, and this is a huge gap to fill. Listen. I remember during the campaign, nikki haley r, marco rubio, and another broke away. She and others in the Foreign Policy circle vl focused strongly on russia, more than the president has. It seems like shes been very strategic during her time at the u. N. Number one, showing that she works for president donald trump, shes loyal to him, loyalty being very important to the president , but also managing to carve her own packet, to show
she had moved on from being a State Governor to being a player in the u. S. Foreign policy at the United Nations. And speaking for the u. S. , for herself, for the administration in those circles in new york. I want to go to Geoff Bennett in the White House Briefing room. Its my understanding the president has walked back into the oval office for the 10 30 a. M. Eastern meeting. You saw him pull in. Yes. Behind me are stairs to the White House Press shop and 20 minutes ago, we saw nikki haley walk past us into the press area into the oval office. She was surrounded by a small group of staffers. There are two things that are important about this meeting. One, the meeting in the oval
office suggests that the departing will amicable. And the timing, youve got stellar jobs numbers. Lowest in 49d years. He has a trade deal with the u. S. And mexico or canada and mexico. To lose a cabinet member, it would be at this time. Donald trump is popular in nikki haleys native South Carolina, so it serves her well to leave on good footing too, hallie. Geoff, when might we know of the first rumblings in the oval office. Its my understanding our colleagues in there to ask questions. Yes. At any minute. We might get it live or there might be a five or tenminute delay that well see on television. But at this moment were told
nikki haley told her staff she plans to resign. Jeff and nancy, let me bring you back in here. Let me set the table for eve everybody one more time. We learned there will be a meeting at the oval office between President Trump and nikki haley, the woman you see on the left side of your screen. Shes been the u. N. Ambassador. She clashed with Rex Tillerson, but seems to have gotten along with current Secretary Of State mike pompeo. Haley has been a Foreign Policy presence, but nbc news has learned she told her staff she plans to resign. Foreign correspondent Andrea Mitchell joins us live. This was not expected. I think this was a surprise to a lot of folks here in washington. Not before the midterms, so theres a question as to whether there are political ambitions in
play here. She, of course, strongly denied she was the anonymous writer in the critical oped in the New York Times. She said when she has problems she speaks to him directly and privately. We know there have been some issues certainly on immigration. She has a background coming from a background of parents who were from india and also not happy about some of the other policies at the United Nations, but certainly we have not seen this coming this soon, hallie. And, andrea, we dont know why shes stepping away from this position, correct . Exactly. It could be personal or any number of issues. Of course in the mr. It cal context, there was tremendous tension between nikki haley and Rex Tillerson, the first Secretary Of State. Things were a lot smoother with mike pompeo, but pompeo is close
with the president and shes an outsider if you will. The most prominent woman in the cabinet, someone who came from a background that conflicts with a lot of the president s policies. We saw when she was governor of South Carolina and the way she responded to the monument there at the church. Shes been an extremely important figure in republican politics and independent politics. Shes got a bright future. Even a mention of running for office herself in the future. Well hear very shortly from the oval office that the pool has gathered for. Right now we dont know exactly why nikki haley is resigning, but we know from one very good source that she did inform her team, her staff that shes stepping down as u. N. Am ba
bassador. Very contentious ambassador to the United Nations. Shes been far more diplomatic than the Bolton National security adviser. Her stepping down from this position, though, will really so lied phi bolton as a very powerf powerful figure. He and his deputy are becoming increasingly popular within the inner circle andrea, what will be the final moment of nikki haleys u. N. Tenure ambassador . It remains to be seen. It depends what she says in her resignation, because she was very discreet about objecting to the president s policies in certain instances. She didnt step forward and
acknowledge The Rock Man Speech and other things and when the president took off with his u. N. Security Council Meeting juftz a couple f of weeksing a. She hasnt signy fight any key split. I suppose after sharl lotsville, that would be the time she stood up, indicating discomfort with what he said. There was a time she said the president s accusers should be heard. Thats a notable point, too, suspect it . Yes. Normally a Foreign Policy adviser would not comment on that. I would doubt that her resignation if it is on the matter of such principle and
such disagreement with the president would be signified by a meeting in the oval office. It would be done in a different way. You heard that our colleague Geoff Bennett saw her walk in, she gave a smile and a wife and that about it. This is not a contentious falling out fired by a tweeted like weve seen in the past. 8 40 on the east coast. Mike pompeo has just rushed from beijing after being chewed out
pompeo is a very strong Secretary Of State and very close to the president and that certainly made nikki haley less powerful. And i am frantically refreshing my email, andrea, as i know you are as well because that will be the first way were going to hear how the meeting is going inside the oval office. Remember, we have cameras in there. We just cant play it live for you on the air. Were going to run that back and hit the play button and you can see it, but in the meantime, well wait to hear from our colleagues in the room. Andrea, i know youll bring more to us as it becomes available. You bet. Juniormeremy, your reaction new this morning, u. N. Ambassador nikki haley telling
us she plans to resign per our sources. As being discussed by andrea and others, one would be forgiven if there had been a firing or falling out. Shes been sharply in a different place with the president on policy issues, notably russia, and she, i think, will be known from her tenure at the u. N. As having lectured russia for its backing of the assad regime in syria, for its use of chemical weapons, a kind of haveyounoshame speech. Its what weve been extensively talking about for the past 20 months. However, shes been a forceful advocate for the president on iran. Shes been a vocal critic of iran. Cultivating those in the east, creating a united front against iran. So shes been seen as an
machinery good sold were with Foreign Policy. Shes been carried a lot of the water there. But, again, i think the fact that shes standing with the president or sitting with the president at the oval office, this explains its something different. This could be another job within the administration, a friendly farewell because theres a personal issue thats requiring her to depart her personal position. But it does not appear that she was being fired because she was outspoken on women survivors of Sexual Assault. I think thats far afield and not justified at this moment. Shes getting a promotion or a fond farewell. Jeremy, ive just been told the reporters covering this just walked into the office. Whatevers going down is going down right now. Whats your best guess of who will step into the role nikki haley leashes vacant, the rule of u. N. Ambassador . Again, its unclear how the administration wants to handle the u. N. Job. Nida pknenina powell had been w the white house with the president. She worked on wall street, in the administration of george w. Push. Shes somebody who, i think, has is well positioned to take on a significant diplomatic role, and shes up in new york and it could potentially make sense. Thats something being discussed. It could be somebody from the diplomatic corps. Rotate them into that most senior of the
u. S. Ambassador roles. I think its time to understand the way the u. S. Views the u. N. Of course, this all does happen in the shadow of john boltons influence. John bolton is the National Security adviser. He was sharply critical of the u. N. As an institution and used his ambassadorship in some ways to reorient the united states, visavis the u United Nations. I think what nikki haley has done has been an advocate for Foreign Policy, but shes not been overly critical of the u. N. On the contrary, shes worked hard to cult fate with other diplomats serving in new york. Shes become One Of The Best advocates for foreign trump policy which obviously has its
numerous critics. Again, the places where she has die vernged from the administration, most significantly on russia really does show you the fissure in thinking beyond the republican Foreign Policy establishment the most tough line, expressing great concern over the way putin has operated in europe, the middle east, the way Russian Intelligence Services have operated in the uk and in the context of our own election with at least the message from the white house being much more tolerant of putinism, and nikki haley has made clear she does not support that approach. Again, it remains to be seen exactly the circumstances of her departure, of her resignation. But it does not appear at this moment to be related to a sharp policy disagreement. Let me bring jeff mason in on
the conversation. Hes on set. Im looking at the pool. It is said nikki haley will be leaving at the end of the year, she hopes to come back in a different capacity. He told her she can have her choice of what she wants. He says she had said interest the beginning or said recently after a year or two period, she wanted to take some time off and he wanted to do this with her because hes shes very special to him and that she gets it. So it sounds like its been a pretty warm meeting so far and she is, in fact, resigning and will be leaving at the end of this year, but he would be happy to have her back. Let me explain how you know that rye noum so theres a group that goes into the oval office. They always have somebody in the room. Its roberta today. Its roberta. Shes sending your Company Updates about the president. Correct. As are others in the pool. Aparnlparently haley is speakind its been the honor of a lifetime, shes excite thad in the two years the u. S. Has become respected since trump had been in office. It seems like its a praisefest. She praised him and hes doing the same. A reporter is saying, we love you, hate to lose you. Theres a lot of love despite u. N. Ambassador nikki haley stepping away from that role. We have the president saying at the end of the year. Let me bring in jonathan lemaire. Do you have any knowledge why this is happening 28 days before the election . Its sort of odd timing if you will. It is. The white house had been looking
to avoid distraction so close to the midterms. Many have been advising him to hold off and those i talked with were sort of blindsided by this. If sore long there are rumors and the aides are left to twist in the wind or on twitter before the president finally makes a move and theyre ousted. This is a case where it did not happen. It seems like a warm departure at this point, but it is not something that the president thought would certainly come today. And what are the folks saying about this, john . Are they caught off guard or no . I agree with jeremy just said. Hes a believer in the institution. There are gremlins. She certainly had a rivalry with
the previous Secretary Of State, Rex Tillerson. Shes oust lasted him, of course. With boldens insurgence and pompeo being strong unlike tillerson, nikki haleys voice seemed to drown out a little bit. The president was there in new york two weeks or so ago. That seemed to go well. He even shared the Industry Counsel while he was there and delivered the message he wanted to both on iran harshly and north korea in terms of expending their olive branch. So there is a sense that may have been factored to go out on sort of a high note. Jonathan lemaire, thank you for that reporting. Let me bring in Michael Allen whos also joining us on the phone. Michael, we know that the president based on his remarks happening now in the Oval Office Said nikki haley came to him
about six months ago and wanted to take a break after an intense few years at the end of the year. The end of the year is december. Why is this coming out in early october . Its very curious timing for sure. I have a feeling, though, as some of your other reporters referenced, thats she felt Unsub Board Nated under the Secretary Of State and new National Security advise. The realm is access to the president. I have a feeling he probably limited the access she had, especially compared to when Rex Tillerson was Secretary Of State. Theres also the friction you have when youre the u. N. Ambassador. Theyve risen up to
policymaking. When, in fact, the people of the Secretary Of State see that as his or her due toy as policymaking. Theres an inherent friction in the role here and i bet that exacerbated her feelings here and moved up her timeline. Talk about that a little bit. John bolton has a unique history with the United Nations and he hates these institutions internationally, right . Talk through how that split might have affected just nikki haleys job but the way the west wing perceives these institutions like the u. N. I can see where makeky haley felt like she was going to have to have a diminished policymaking role, but at least she would call the shots, visavis the institutions in the u. N. But if john bolton comes in, hes displaying skepticism. He was probably the main driver
about the u. S. Withdrawal from the u. N. Human rights council. I wonder if she fell like she steam rolled on those decisions or wasnt adequately consulted about the timing. I think all of this may shake out that this with us in the back of her mind as she devised her plans. Theres also a piece of this, too, right . Nikki haley as andrea noted earlier and our other guests and panel have considered a gop rising star, young, people who can appeal. When you look at her political future, she says she wants to take a break, but do you see that break being short as she hops back into the ring next year . I think so. Fans of hers felt great that she would be able to go up to the
knew nighttimed issues. You can say people wont be able to make that an issue with her because shes been up there in The Line Of Fire and it will turn out to have been almost two years by the time she steps down. Michael allen, thank you very much for hopping on the phone during this breaking news. Any minute we expect to hear more from the reporters in the oval office. We know President Trump is making remarks. U. N. Ambassador nikki haley is always making remarks. She is departing, but shes doing so, it seems, or very good terms. Andrea mitchell is now joining us. Again, andrea, have you heard anything new related to the reasons for why nikki haley is leaving. She says its because she wanted
a break. One doesnt know whether or not there would be some future opening in South Carolina for a senator, for instance, if Lindsey Graham moves up in the cabinet. So there could be a lot of other things involved as well. Andrea, can you talk more about the replacement when you joined us a couple of minutes ago . Who could you see as picking up the mantel . That could be trickier. You have a much more powerful one now. Its obviously a critical post, but not as important when you have Foreign Policy directed so much out of the white house that the u. N. Ambassador becomes sort of an offshoot doing the
diplomatic work at a Multilateral Organization that the president does not believe in so strongly. So its a have interesting issue as to who would fill that vacancy. There are a lot of people who mietz want to have that kind of exposure, certainly in new york city, but it could be a tough cop fir nation. Shes stepping down at the end of the year. Lets assume the senate is republican. Thats one scenario. If its democratic, that could be hard. Bolt on the served on a recessed appointment. Let me point out were tweeting about nikki haley, a contemporary of his saying nikki haley has been a clear,
consistent, and powerful voice for americas interests and democratic principles on the world stage. She challenged friend and foe to be better. I am sadden thad she is leaving the the Trump Republican Party and the more Mainstream Conservative traditional republican party, so she has been part of both wings of the republican party. Now its clearly the trump party that is predominant, and we dont know where shes going to end up, but she has maintained a railroad of independence or reputation for independence even while being in the inner circle and saying that she is private about her objections or disagreements with the president , if any, making it as you pointed out earlier only really clear after charlottesville that she had split with the president. Andrea, mitchell, i will let you get back to your phone calls and Text Messages because i know youre working this story. Let me bring in former Deputy AssistantSecretary Of State joel ruben. Youve been on before talking
about nikki haley back in the beginning of the administration when it was rumored she could end up in maybe the Secretary Of State role. Remember that . Your reaction to her departure . My first reaction is that this may be her getting out when the getting is good because, as we know, a lot of these nominees, a lot of these cabinet officials, their time runs out, and eventually its time for them to get pushed out. Shes leaving on a high. Shes also, we are now getting new notes from the oval office from the reporters in the room, shes saying shes not running in 2020. Shes going to campaign for donald trump, which you can imagine is something the president is enjoying hearing . He certainly is. To have her as a validator, in particular during the metoo movement, thats going to be a strong validator. There are some good choices for his agenda, that could get through a divided senate. There are a lot of others who
would carry that kind of position. The president is playing coy saying simply we have a number of people who would like to do it and calling it a more gram ro glamorous position nikki ha glamorous. It is about role work, and we need to have someone up there whos plugging away. I think regardless of ones positions and views of her position policies, she did work hard at the u. N. , and she did engender support from the people who worked for her as someone who was diligent in getting the job done in the administration. Youve got two Policy Points that have come up here in the discussion, among the many weve talked about today, but iran and north korea. These are two major focal points for this administration, two things that Secretary Of State mike pompeo and Ambassador Haley, soon to be former Ambassador Haley have worked on. Shes talking about north korea, you look back to december of 2016, boy, were in a different place . We really are. Were at inflection point. Rhetorically, lets say, if not on the ground. Both policies are moving in opposite directions in many ways. On north korea we have a situation now where the president is being teed up to get a second meeting with kim jongun post the mike pompeo visit there this past weekend looking to see Real Denuclearization Move forward. At the same time on iran, there are real concerns that the u. S. Is beating the drums of war towards iran, and it will need to use the u. N. As a pedestal, as a platform, really to advance that policy. Both policies going in opposite directions here. Yeah, and i absolutely think that, you know, i think one thing about nikki haley is that, you know, her deputy also john learner is expected to leave. Like her absence will really clear out. It will create a big power vacuum in the administration, and i think it will be curious to see in this era of the rise of bolton and pompeos close relationship with the president. And how about the Vice President , too, nikki haley was close with Vice President pence . For sure. Whats among the most intere interesting thing here is the politics. If you hear her say im going to campaign for the president in 2020, that is removing a threat. Its also pretty difficult for her to primary the president at the beginning of next year, if shes staying in her current role until the end of this year, but if she does go out and campaign for him shes saying shes campaigning for him. Right, in 2020, and he doesnt win in 2020, she sets herself up very well to run herself for president in the next election. Lets get into the politics piece of it. Theres somebody who works for our network that knows South Carolina politics, knows nikki haley. Thats craig melvin. You have been talking to some of your sources there in South Carolina. Whats going on . What are you hearing . Just a source close to the ambassador confirms what weve been reporting, that she is in fact resigning. I came to know nikki haley many years ago when she was a State Senator in South Carolina. Shes from lexington, county this is not the last we are going to see and hear from nikki haley. Her political star still very much on the rise. Its been on the rise for a number of years now. A lot of folks probably have forgotten that nikki haley was late she was late to the trump party. She sure was. She was quite late to the trump party, and she probably would not be ambassador had it not been for a guy named Henry Mcmaster who is now the governor of South Carolina who was very early to the trump party, but back then governor mcmaster was then Lieutenant Governor. Nikki haley was the governor of South Carolina, and once donald trump became president one thing that mcmaster always wanted to be was governor of South Carolina, hed run a number of times and lost, and here was an opportunity if he could get nikki haley out of his way, so his friend in the President Elect essentially says to Lieutenant Governor mcmaster
ill do you a solid. He offers nikki haley a job in the administration. Initially, the job offer was not for ambassador. He offers her a lower level cabinet considered by many to be a lower level cabinet position. She says no, but i would leave the Governors Mansion for this. That is essentially how she became ambassador to the United Nations. But its very interesting, as we continue, and again, we havent heard from her just yet i know, but as we continue to surmise what her political future might be, i spent some time with her overseas last year in jordan on her first trip as ambassador jofr sea overseas and i got the indication from her then and from her staff on the ground that she is going to be around republican politics at this level for years to come. We understand, craig melvin, that the group of reporters who have been in the oval have just walked out. We should be seeing this for
ourselves, those remarks from President Trump and u. N. Ambassador for now nikki haley. One member of Republican Leadership just said, john thune, saying he had no idea that this Resignation Announcement was going to be coming from nikki haley. He said on fox news he was with a member of the Senate ForeignRelations Committee last night. Nobody had a clue this was dropping until about two and a half hours ago or so. Interesting stuff that it was a surprise to senators. I dont think we have Andrea Mitchell so ill turn that question to you guys. It sort of goes to the Reality Tv Show aspect of the Trump Administration. Again, we dont know if she decided super late or if she just informed the president last night or this morning. Im sure well get the reporting on that. The fact he set up this meeting. The fact they have had this love fest in the oval office. The fact he teased it ahead of time that there was a leak to sort of get some excitement about it goes to the overall
showman aspect the president likes. Successor to be named within two or three weeks the president says in the oval office. That would put us just before the midterms that somebody new would be stepping into that role as United Nations ambassador. He talked thabout north korea a the possibility of meeting again with kim jongun. He says three or four locations theyve zeroed in on here. Wouldnt say exactly where, if its u. S. Soil, korean soil. He left the door open for that. That would be remarkable if he does bring kim jongun here to the united states. Remarkable is one word for it, an understatement if you will. See the lid of the capitol blow off, and it would be something unprecedented. Certainly this administration right now is putting all of its eggs into the north korea diplomacy basket. It is trying to use this as a real deliverable for his ability to engage on the global stage. The president rightly receives a lot of criticism for his diplomatic overtures. If he can pull this one out, thats going to clean up a lot
of those criticisms. Also just to point out in terms of the Reality Showmanship of it, the past four weeks have been consumed by this kavanaugh confirmation process, and its made people on both sides so angry and upset. This totally changes the narrative of that and gives people a new focal point and also is the president trying to pivot and show that hes making progress on north korea. To me thats a real sort of crucial shift in the message ahead of the midterms. And likely a question that will come up for whoever ends up becoming the u. N. Ambassador next. Worth noting, as a little note of skepticism about that time frame. The president will often say this is going to happen in two to three weeks. Remember when Melania Trump was going to hold a Press Conference on her immigration sta tu status, that was in 2016. I would object a note of skepticism. We are 90 seconds from hearing from President Trump and nikki haley making remarks on this developing news that the ambassador to the United Nations will be stepping away from that