In March 2018, the AP wrote about Nauert's "meteoric rise" in the State Department. "U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Nauert are among the few women in the Trump administration with high-profile voices on foreign policy. Only three State Department officials — all men — now outrank Nauert."[4]
While at the State Department, Nauert conducted press briefings and oversaw communications and public diplomacy for the 75,000-person department. She reported directly to two secretaries of state, Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo, and traveled extensively, including to North Korea to participate in denuclearization talks and bring home three American hostages held by the regime.[5]
She also served on the board of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, formerly known as the Broadcasting Board of Governors, which administers U.S. taxpayer-funded television and radio networks, including Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Asia, Radio Free Liberty, Cuba Broadcasting and Middle East Broadcasting Networks.[6]
In 2020, Nauert joined the Board of Advisors for the Center for New American Security, an independent, bipartisan nonprofit that conducts research and develops pragmatic and principled defense and national security policies.[11] The Board includes prominent leaders from the military, government, private sector, and academia.[12] She was a Senior Fellow at the Hudson Institute, a conservative think tank, until 2021.[13]
Nauert consults corporate and non-profit clients. In 2023, she joined the Federal Advisory Board of Armis, a cybersecurity firm. She is a contributor to the British TV network, ITV News, where she provides analysis of the 2024 election.[14]
In 2020, Nauert joined the Advisory Board of BGR Group, a government relations and public affairs firm in Washington, D.C. She also serves as a senior advisor to corporations, think tanks, and foundations. Nauert advises Fortune 500 companies, reporting to CEOs and boards of directors, providing leaders with strategic communications guidance, including developing and leading media campaigns to achieve clients' unique goals.[15]
Nauert addressing reporters at a State Department press briefing.
In 2024, Heather Nauert traveled to Ukraine with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to see conditions on the ground as the country entered its third year of war following Russia's 2022 invasion. With other former government officials and media, she undertook a 1,300-mile road trip visiting bombed out hospitals and schools and speaking with civilians, aid organizations, military and government officials.[17]
As the debate for aid to war-torn Ukraine dragged on through U.S. Congress, Nauert authored several op-eds about the issues at stake:
Op-ed published in the New York Post: "As Congress debates aid, Russia is 'kidnapping' Ukrainian kids."[20]
Op-ed published in The Hill: "America's enemies are sharpening their knives as Congress fights itself."[21]
Op-ed published in The Hill, "On Ukraine aid, Republicans should follow the leader."[22]
In an interview on Newsmax, Nauert said, "The United States and our partners need to give Ukraine the lethal aid that they are asking for."[23]
In February of 2024, she met with Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova. As Nauert posted about her trip: "Five days in Ukraine with Republican national security colleagues - showing our solid commitment to the Ukrainian people, despite squabbling in Washington. Thank you, President Sandu, for speaking so candidly with us."[24]
Hungary
In the spring of 2024, Nauert traveled to Hungary to speak at Ludovika University of Public Service about U.S. foreign policy. She joined officials from France, Poland, and Hungary–including Prime Minister Viktor Orbán's senior political team–for a debate.[25]
She highlighted concerning policies as Hungary develops stronger ties with China and Russia. As Nauert posted on LinkedIn, "I emphasized the importance of a strong and enduring NATO alliance, with partner countries committing at least 2% of GDP to defense spending. I expressed grave concern about Putin's war in Ukraine and his targeted killing of civilians and kidnapping of Ukrainian children. We also talked about China's attempt to gain influence in foreign countries and I cautioned that its real intent is to spy, steal intellectual property, technology and become the beneficiary of foreign nations' debt."[26]
Israel
In September 2022, Nauert reported on Hezbollah terror tunnels that the Israel Defense Forces discovered near Israel's border in Lebanon in a piece published in The Sun: "Inside a Terrorist Tunnel, Between Lebanon and Israel."[27]
Following the October 7th attacks in Israel, she wrote about the threat Iran and its proxies pose against Israel and America in a piece published in The Sun: "Let Kfar Aza Be One of the Places the World Remembers Forever."[28]
While she was in Poland in February 2024, Nauert did a television interview with Polish TV station TVN, expressing support for Ukraine. She said:
"I don't go on TV often but when I do - it's because the subject is something I'm passionate about - right now that's Ukraine and conveying my full support for equipping this democratic, freedom-loving country in its fight for survival against the evil Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainians are willing to fight this alone - and they are - only asking NATO allies for military equipment & limited financial assistance to continue their mission to secure their borders & prevent Putin from invading others.
Thank you to my friends in #Poland @tvn.pol for having me on to talk about the importance of our NATO alliance and the need to stand by our friends in Ukraine. #Poland is doing great work - contributing 4% of GDP to defense spending - double the Wales Agreement pledge."[30]
Afghanistan
She was also involved with Task Force Pineapple, working with a volunteer group of former military and government officials to help vetted Afghanistan allies make their way to safety as the U.S. governmentfled. Nauert told the Inlander, "I was personally horrified by the thought that we would leave behind people who had served alongside us."[31]
In 1996, Nauert was a reporter for the syndicated business program First Business. She worked for Fox News from 1998 to 2005, first as a contributor for three years and then as a correspondent for four years.[34] During her time as a correspondent, she regularly contributed to The Big Story, where she ultimately became co-anchor in 2007.[35]
While at ABC, she was nominated for an Emmy Award for her in-depth piece on teen girls in Iraq during the war on the special series 13 Around the World.[37][38] In 2007, Nauert returned to Fox News[39] as co-host with John Gibson of the weekday edition of The Big Story until it was canceled in 2008.[40]
Nauert also co-anchored the newscasts Good Day Early Call and Good Day New York Wake Up with co-anchor Steve Lacy weekday mornings for Fox Broadcasting Companyowned-and-operated stationWNYW in New York City. In October 2012, Nauert left Good Day Wake Up to rejoin Fox News Channel full time as an anchor and breaking newsreporter. She appeared regularly on Fox & Friends.[39][41] According to the Washington Post, Nauert "broadcast just about every right-wing talking-point under the sun" when she was a presenter on Fox News. She referred to illegal immigrant students as "illegals"[42] and cited CDC studies that immigrant children were bringing disease like tuberculosis.[43][44]
She has appeared on two fictional TV shows in which she played herself: 24 (3 episodes, 2010) and Brother's Keeper (1 episode, 1999).[45]
More than 4,400 Americans were killed and 32,000 wounded in the War. Nauert said, "The impact of this war on service members, their families and our nation is still apparent - and even raw - today."
Speaking about her various reporting assignments in 2004, 2006, and 2007, Nauert explained, "Each reporting stint was about 6 weeks and required a lot of pre-preparation. I'll never forget the look my dad gave me when I told him I volunteered to spend Christmas in Iraq during a particularly unnerving time. To me, it was an honor and the least I could do."
While reporting on the conflicts, Nauert provided viewers with hourly or daily updates. She said, "At the time, this was the most significant story in the world, with every major news organization sending teams and more than 30 coalition partners (countries working together) sending troops."[47]
September 11 Attacks
Nauert covered the 9/11 terror attacks from New York City while working as a correspondent for the Fox News Channel. Her account was documented in the book "At Ground Zero: 25 Stories from Young Reporters Who Were There."[48]
Following the dismissal of Steve Goldstein on March 13, 2018, Nauert was named acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, the fourth ranking position in the State Department.[52][42] In that role, she oversaw a budget of $1.2 billion and almost 1,000 employees.[42] She was the Department's highest-ranking woman while simultaneously serving as Department Spokesperson.[53]
Heather Nauert chatting with Secretary Pompeo at the Singapore Summit in 2018.
During her time in the State Department, Nauert did not develop a close relationship with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, but after Tillerson's dismissal, she became part of Mike Pompeo's inner circle when he took over as Secretary of State.[54][55]
In these roles, Nauert communicated U.S. foreign policy and formulated the public messaging for the 75,000-person State Department and nearly 300 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide. She helped plan, execute, and manage the messaging of all overseas trips led by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
She also helped facilitate the messaging on top department initiatives, such as initiating the maximum pressure sanctions campaign against North Korea, holding China accountable for actions in the South China Sea, and combating state-sponsored disinformation from Russia, China, and Iran.[56]
Acting Under Secretary Nauert Working Behind-the-Scenes at the Singapore Summit
In May of 2018, Nauert was part of a small team who went with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a secret mission to bring three Americans home from North Korea.[57] She provided strategic counsel to Secretary Pompeo during his high-stakes meetings with North Korean officials, as they met to plan the landmark summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un, which took place in June of 2018.
At the end of Secretary Pompeo's 13-hour meetings with top North Korea officials, including an hour and a half meeting with Kim Jong Un, North Korea agreed to release three Americans who were wrongfully detained in a Pyongyang prison. As The Washington Post reported, this monumental decision "set the stage for a landmark summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un."[58]
To ensure their safe return to the United States, President Trump announced the news as the Americans took off on a government plane from Pyongyang.[59]
Heather Nauert meeting with Secretary Pompeo and other top administration officials before leaving Mexico
When the United States withdrew from Unesco, Nauert was quoted by the New York Times as saying, "We were in arrears to the tune of $550 million or so, and so the question is, do we want to pay that money? With this anti-Israel bias that's long documented on the part of Unesco, that needs to come to an end."[61]
In April 2018, Nauert voiced support for Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. She also condemned "Iran's malign influence" in Yemen.[62] In May 2018, Nauert said in response to the Gaza border protests: "We oppose actions against Israel at the International Criminal Court (...) because it does not help the cause for peace."[63]
Nauert called for the release of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia such as Oleg Sentsov, Stanislav Klykh, Oleksandr Shumkov and Volodymyr Balukh.[64] In a State Department statement, Nauert said: "The United States is deeply concerned by the growing number of individuals—now more than 150—identified by credible human rights organizations as political and religious prisoners held by the government of the Russian Federation.... We call on Russia to release all those identified as political or religious prisoners immediately and cease its use of the legal system to suppress dissent and peaceful religious practice. The Russian people, like people everywhere, deserve equal treatment under the law and the ability to exercise their rights without fear of retribution."[65][66]
Heather Nauert Speaking at a Press Conference in Bangladesh
In August 2018, Canada called for the immediate release of Saudi human rights activist Raif Badawi and his sister, Samar Badawi. In response to Canada's criticism, Saudi Arabia expelled the Ambassador of Canada and froze trade with Canada, leading to a decline in Canada–Saudi Arabia relations.[70] Nauert said: "It is up for the Government of Saudi Arabia and the Canadians to work this out. Both sides need to diplomatically resolve this together. We cannot do it for them."[71][72]
Nauert criticized China's re-education camps and human rights violations against ethnic Uyghurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities in China's north-western province of Xinjiang. She said that "credible reports indicate that individuals sent by Chinese authorities to detention centers since April 2017 number at least in the hundreds of thousands, and possibly millions."[73][74][75]
Heather Nauert hosted the annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards at the U.S. State Department on March 23, 2018.
In February 2019, it was reported that she did not intend to return to work as State Department spokeswoman following her withdrawal from consideration as U.N. ambassador.[1]
Energy Independence
In her roles at the State Department, Nauert advocated for the Department to promote Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) as an important component of national security and international relations. In 2017, the State Department announced the delivery of the first LNG delivery to Poland.[76][77]
In a State Department statement, Nauert said: "The United States welcomes the arrival of the first U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipment to Central Europe, which arrived in Poland on June 7. U.S. LNG exports support American jobs, lower energy prices for our partners abroad, and contribute to Europe's energy security goals using a reliable, market based supplier."[78]
As Nauert explained, "The Department of State has worked closely with European partners to diversify European energy supplies through new sources of natural gas, vital interconnectors and new facilities to import LNG. The United States congratulates Poland on this significant step to diversify its own sources of energy and to strengthen Europe's energy security."[79]
Nauert continues to promote LNG as vital for American allies' national security.
Proposed nomination as United States Ambassador to the United Nations
On December 7, 2018, Trump announced that he would nominate Nauert to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations.[80] He told reporters that Nauert was "excellent," adding, "She's been a supporter for a long time."[81] News outlets noted that she had risen rapidly through the ranks of the State Department and that she had little official foreign policy experience, though in her time as a reporter she had covered numerous international conflicts and interviewed numerous foreign officials and world leaders.[82]Politico wrote, "Less than two years ago, Heather Nauert was conducting interviews on 'Fox and Friends.' Now, she's preparing to navigate the world's raging geopolitical issues."[83] A Washington Post headline read, "Heather Nauert once cited D-Day in 'long history' of U.S.-German relations. Now she's headed to the U.N."[42]
Despite Trump's announcement, he never nominated Nauert. In filling out paperwork for the appointment, she revealed that she had employed a nanny who, though she was in the country legally, lacked a proper work visa.[1] Citing family considerations, Nauert withdrew her name from consideration on February 16, 2019.[84] Trump then nominated Ambassador Kelly Craft, who became the 30th United States Ambassador to the United Nations.[85]
Nauert is a native of Rockford, Illinois,[87] and spent much of her childhood in Wisconsin. Her father, Peter Nauert, was an executive in the insurance industry. She has three brothers: Justin, Jonathan, and Joseph.[88]
Victoria Jane Nuland is an American diplomat who served as Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs from 2021 to 2024. A former member of the US Foreign Service, she served as Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs from 2013 to 2017 and the 18th U.S. ambassador to NATO from 2005 to 2008. Between July 2023 and February 2024, Nuland served as acting deputy secretary of state following the retirement of Wendy Sherman.
Mary Louise Kelly is an American broadcaster and author. She anchors the daily news show All Things Considered on National Public Radio (NPR), and previously covered national security at the network. Prior to NPR she reported for CNN and the BBC in London. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, The Atlantic, and other publications. Her first novel, Anonymous Sources, was published in 2013; her second, The Bullet, in 2015; and her memoir, It. Goes. So. Fast.: The Year of No Do-Overs, in 2023.
Nimarata Nikki Haley is an American politician and diplomat who served as the 116th governor of South Carolina from 2011 to 2017 and as the 29th U.S. ambassador to the United Nations from January 2017 to December 2018. A Republican, Haley is the first Indian American to serve in a presidential cabinet. She was a candidate in the 2024 Republican Party presidential primaries. Her victory in the Washington, D.C. primary on March 3, 2024, made her the first woman ever to win a Republican Party presidential primary contest.
Marie Louise "Masha" Yovanovitch is a Canadian-American former diplomat and retired senior member of the United States Foreign Service. She served in multiple State Department posts, including Senior Advisor to the Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs (2004–2005), U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (2005–2008), U.S. Ambassador to Armenia (2008–2011), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs (2012–2013), and Ambassador to Ukraine (2016–2019). Yovanovitch is a diplomat in residence at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University. On January 31, 2020, it was reported that she had retired from the State Department.
Peter Michael McKinley is an American diplomat. A career Foreign Service Officer, McKinley served as U.S. Ambassador to Peru (2007–2010), Colombia (2010–2013), Afghanistan (2015–2016), and Brazil (2017–2018), and then as Senior Adviser to the U.S. Secretary of State (2018–2019).
Brian H. Hook is an American diplomat, lawyer and government official. In 2021, he joined Cerberus Capital Management as vice chairman for global investments. He is an adjunct professor at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy.
Michael Richard Pompeo is an American politician who served in the administration of Donald Trump as director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) from 2017 to 2018 and as the 70th United States secretary of state from 2018 to 2021. He also served in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2017.
John Joseph Sullivan is an American attorney and government official who served as the United States Ambassador to Russia from 2020 to 2022, and who previously served as the 19th United States Deputy Secretary of State from 2017 to 2019. A member of the Republican Party, Sullivan served as Acting United States Secretary of State from April 1, 2018, to April 26, 2018, following President Donald Trump's dismissal of Secretary of State Rex Tillerson on March 13, 2018, until Tillerson's official successor, Mike Pompeo, was sworn in. Tillerson did not officially leave office until March 31, 2018. Sullivan, however, was delegated all responsibilities of the Secretary of State beginning March 13.
Kelly Dawn Craft is an American businesswoman, politician, and former diplomat who served as the 30th United States Ambassador to the United Nations from 2019 to 2021 under President Donald Trump. She was confirmed as the US ambassador to the United Nations by the US Senate by a vote of 56–34, and was officially sworn in September 2019.
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The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is a United States federal law that imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The bill was passed by the Senate on July 27, 2017, 98–2, after it passed the House 419–3. It was signed into law on August 2, 2017, by President Donald Trump, who nevertheless believed that the legislation was "seriously flawed".
The 2018 Russia–United States summit was a summit meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 16, 2018, in Helsinki, Finland. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs officially titled the summit as the #HELSINKI2018 Meeting and it was hosted by the President of Finland Sauli Niinistö.
John Edward James is an American businessman, combat veteran, and politician serving as the U.S. representative from Michigan's 10th congressional district since 2023. A member of the Republican Party, he was the party's nominee for U.S. Senate in 2018 and 2020.
Thomas Ulrich Brechbuhl is a Swiss-American businessman and former government official, having held the position of Counselor of the United States Department of State from May 1, 2018, to January 20, 2021. He was appointed by and reported to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and replaced Maliz E. Beams. Along with the role of Counselor, he served as the Acting Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs at the Department of State from March to September 2020.
Steven Alan Linick is an American attorney and State Department official who served as Inspector General of the Department of State and led the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of State. In 2013, he was nominated by President Barack Obama and was confirmed by the United States Senate. Linick was removed from office by Donald Trump on May 15, 2020, effective in 30 days per federal law, with Stephen Akard appointed acting inspector general in the interim.
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Lev Parnas is a Soviet-born American businessman and former associate of Rudy Giuliani. Parnas, Giuliani, Igor Fruman, John Solomon, Yuriy Lutsenko, Dmytro Firtash and his allies, Victoria Toensing and Joe diGenova, were involved in creating the false Biden–Ukraine conspiracy theory, which is part of the Trump–Ukraine scandal's efforts to damage Joe Biden. As president, Donald Trump said he did not know Parnas or what he was involved in; Parnas insisted Trump "knew exactly what was going on".
George P. Kent is an American diplomat. He is ambassador to Estonia since February 21, 2023. George Kent served as deputy assistant secretary of state for the European and Eurasian Affairs from 2018 to 2021. As a United States Foreign Service officer, his early service has included assignments in the U.S. diplomatic missions to Poland, Thailand and Uzbekistan. In 2004, he was assigned to serve as deputy political counselor in Kyiv, Ukraine, and was deputy chief of mission in Kyiv from 2015 to 2018.
This is a timeline of major events in second half of 2019 related to the investigations into the myriad links between Trump associates and Russian officials and spies that are suspected of being inappropriate, relating to the Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. It follows the timeline of Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections before and after July 2016 up until election day November 8, and the transition, the first and second halves of 2017, the first and second halves of 2018, and the first half of 2019, but precedes that of 2020 and 2021.
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