President Donald Trump is considering John James, a Michigan businessman who lost election to the U.S. Senate this year, to replace UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, according to two people familiar with the matter.
James tried to unseat Senator Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat, in a state that helped Trump win the presidency in 2016. He lost to the incumbent senator 46 to 52 percent. He’s now among the people Trump is considering to replace Haley, the former South Carolina governor who said in October she would resign by the end of the year, the people said.
They asked not to be identified because Trump’s deliberations on the job are private.
James was at the White House last week talking about an administration post with Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Vice President Mike Pence, two people said.
James is an Iraq War veteran who is president of closely held James Group International, a supply-chain management firm based in Detroit. If chosen, he would become one of a few black officials in the top ranks of the Trump administration.
Other people Trump’s considered for the United Nations job include the U.S. ambassadors to France, Germany and Canada.
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