Washington, Dec 8 (IANS): US President Donald Trump has announced the nomination of State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert to succeed Nikki Haley as US ambassador to the UN.

"She's very talented, very smart, very quick, and I think she's going to be respected by all," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.

The US President praised Nauert for the "great job" she has done as State Department spokeswoman, Efe news reported.

Friday's announcement followed weeks of rumours that Nauert, a former Fox News anchor, would be Trump's choice, though the administration was said to be considering other candidates, including the current US envoys to France, Jamie McCourt; Canada, Kelly Knight Craft; and Germany, Richard Grenell.

Haley said in October that she would be stepping down at the end of the year.

She would spend her final weeks at the post helping to prepare Nauert to take over, Trump had said.

Nauert, 48, joined the State Department in April 2017 and served till October 2018 as the acting under secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.

The nomination is subject to confirmation by the Senate, where Trump's Republican Party has a majority.