Ugh — isn’t it unfair when you have work on a holiday? Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, thinks so too! Especially when you have to skip the beach and BBQ to strategize how to forestall the eventual nuclear destruction of the West Coast.
Yesterday, Haley apparently had to head into the office after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un conducted a successful test of the country’s first intercontinental ballistic missile. Some analysts said it had the potential to hit Alaska. Haley complained about this interruption of her holiday on Twitter, stating, “Spending my my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea.”
Spending my 4th in meetings all day. #ThanksNorthKorea
— Nikki Haley (@nikkihaley) July 4, 2017
Womp-womp!
Haley’s nudgy hashtag carried considerably less potential consequence than President Trump’s barely oblique threat to North Korea about the test. But it went over like a perhaps-no-longer-proverbial lead balloon on Twitter, where it was perceived as tone deaf — either inadvertently so, or part of a directive that U.S. government officials are now to be as sloppy and oblivious on Twitter as possible.
There were suggestions that, as someone who literally represents the United States to the world, Haley could have sent a more appropriate holiday message, such as thanking the Armed Forces.
While I appreciate your service to our nation, perhaps you should be thanking the nearly 200,000 US troops serving overseas on #FourthOfJuly
— Andrew Weinstein (@Weinsteinlaw) July 4, 2017
How about thanking our men and women currently serving on the Korean penninsula? There’s a thought. Ya know, instead of acting like she’s 4.
— Erin Stirnaman (@erinstirnaman) July 4, 2017
The amount of arrogance in this tweet is baffling. Is serving the American people an inconvenience for you? If so, feel free to step down.
— Geraldine (@everywhereist) July 4, 2017
Others pointed out Haley’s lack of perspective.
Isn’t that your job? I bet YOUR job gives you health insurance. If you don’t like public service, quit. (TY for sharing @everywhereist)
— Yosef Silver (@ysilver) July 4, 2017
. Kudos. Spending a holiday working for American security is unprecedented. pic.twitter.com/QpqERnnd0i
— Jake Query (@jakequery) July 4, 2017
As a medical professional most of us don’t get holidays off. It’s part of what we signed up for and we’re happy to take care of our patients
— Bridget Simonds (@bridgetsimonds0) July 5, 2017
Some wondered if Trump’s liberal golf-weekend schedule had become an administration-wide expectation.
Did you think being the United States ambassador to the United Nations was a 9-5 job with holidays off?
— Dave Hogg ? (@Stareagle) July 4, 2017
Trump thinks the presidency is 9-5 w/ weekends and holidays off. Perhaps she got the idea from him?
— FacePlant (@ash43co) July 4, 2017
There’s no way he’s even working 9-5…
— erin gibson (@actuallyerin) July 4, 2017
In a speech at the United Nations today, Haley said the United States was prepared to use “our considerable military forces” in response to the North Korean test.
“Time is short. Action is required. The world is on notice,” she said. “If we act together, we can still prevent a catastrophe and we can rid the world of a grave threat. If we fail to act in a serious way, there will be a different response.”
