WASHINGTON - Goldman Sachs executive Dina Powell has withdrawn from consideration to succeed Nikki Haley as the US ambassador to the United Nations, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

Powell told President Donald Trump by phone that she was honored to be considered but planned to stay at Goldman Sachs, the source told Reuters.

Trump had been talking to Powell about the position since Haley this week announced plans to resign. Powell served the Trump White House earlier as a deputy national security adviser.

There had been some resistance in the White House to Powell's return, and a senior administration official told Reuters earlier that she was no longer under consideration.

Trump said on Wednesday he had several candidates for the job of representing the United States at the United Nations to succeed Haley, who announced her resignation on Tuesday.

Reuters