Nauert Out, Kelly Knight Craft Nominated as Trump’s UN Envoy
by Stephen Lendman (stephenlendman.org - Home - Stephen Lendman)
Former Fox News pseudo-journalist, State Department spokeswoman, geopolitical know-nothing Heather Nauert withdrew her nomination as Trump’s UN envoy last week, saying the following:
“The past two months have been grueling for my family, and therefore it is in the best interest of my family that I withdraw my name from consideration” - with no further elaboration.
Like Nikki Haley, she’s supremely unqualified for the diplomatic post, perhaps deciding bowing out discretion is preferable to pretense on the job where she’d clearly be out of her element.
Trump’s nominee to replace her Kelly Knight Craft is just as dubious, his envoy to Canada, wife of billionaire coal-mining tycoon/large GOP donor Joseph Craft - CEO of Alliance Resource Partners, a figure with close White House ties.
According to the Center for Responsive Politics, he donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural ceremonies and $775,000 to his 2016 presidential campaign.
When DLT rolled back environmental regulations by executive order in March 2017, part of his war on the earth, Craft was at the White House for the signing ceremony.
Documents obtained via an FOIA request revealed Scott’s communications with Trump’s former EPA administrator Scott Pruitt - an enemy of the earth like Trump and Scott.
In March 2017, DLT signed an executive order, directing Pruitt to eliminate Clean Water Rule protections, Scott and other polluters likely lobbied heavily for.
At the time, Friends of the Earth responded sharply, saying:
“Today the Trump administration ordered a review of the Clean Water Rule, which could roll back critical protections for streams and wetlands and put the drinking water sources for millions of Americans at risk from pollution.”
“Finalized in 2015, the Clean Water Rule clearly defined the waterways subject to protection under the Clean Water Act, in order to prevent their pollution and destruction and provide clean water for drinking, agriculture, and forestry.”
In deference to big donors like Scott, Trump’s actions in office reflect his promise to deregulate corporate America, putting profits ahead of people and human health - coal the dirtiest fossil fuel.
Eliminating clean water protections is ecological terrorism. Trump and his cronies are hostile to clean water, air, soil, and fundamental human rights.
Craft is one of the coal industry’s most influential voices in Washington. His wife’s appointment as Trump’s envoy to Canada and nomination as UN envoy is evidence of his clout.
Kelly Craft’s official bio calls her a leader (sic), entrepreneur and philanthropist. In 2007, the Bush/Cheney regime appointed her as an alternate US UN General Assembly delegate.
In 2016, she was a Kentucky delegate to the GOP National Convention. Her diplomatic experience is largely limited to her ambassadorial role.
She has little experience on the world stage. Her main qualification for the posts of envoy to Canada and the UN is her husband’s super-wealth and financial support for Trump and the GOP.
She and her husband are prominent donors to Republicans and conservative, anti-populist interests. They’re also “repeat high-paying customers” at Trump’s Washington hotel, according to WaPo.
Trump publicly praises everyone nominated or appointed to regime posts, regardless of their qualifications. His cabinet is a virtual rogue’s gallery of right-wing extremists, billionaires, warmongers, and enemies of the earth.
VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at [email protected].
My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III."
