US is about actions at the UN: Nikki Haley

The US is about actions at the United Nations, America's ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley said today as she led an ambassadorial delegation from the Security Council for a meeting with President Donald Trump.

"The idea that he (Trump) would have that dialogue with them is tremendously helpful to me, whereas, you know, in the Security Council, we need them to really engage, we need them to now know that we are about action," Haley, an Indian- American, told reporters at a White House news conference.

This was her first appearance in the White House press room. She did not take any questions from the media.
 

"I think that what we've tried to do in the UN is really bring reform, reform in the way we spend, reform in the peacekeeping operations, but also reform in the resolutions that are passed, that what we pass actually means something and that there's accountability in what we pass," she said.

Ambassadors from 15 countries, who are members of the UN Security Council, along with their spouses had a luncheon with Trump.

They also had a briefing with top officials of the Trump administration.

"I think that they are thrilled with the engagement that they had, and I think it shows that the President's very engaged on foreign policy and they see that. The idea he would sit down and want to talk to them about each of their countries and the Security Council collectively is massive for a president to be able to do this, and it was certainly helpful for the United States," she said.

Later at a working luncheon with the ambassadors, Trump praised Haley "for doing a fantastic job".

"I want to thank ambassador Nikki Haley for her outstanding leadership, and for acting as my personal envoy on the Security Council. She's doing a good job," Trump said.

"Now, does everybody like Nikki?" Trump asked the other envoys sitting in the State Dining Room of the White House.

"Because if you don't... She can easily be replaced," he said. "No, we won't do that, I promise. We won't do that. She's doing a fantastic job," he said.

"And everyone, I see - even as we took pictures before - the friendship that you've developed, all of you together. That's really a fantastic thing," Trump said.