Heather Nauert facts for kids
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Heather Nauert
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Official portrait, 2017
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| 27th Spokesperson for the United States Department of State | |
| In office April 24, 2017 – April 3, 2019 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | John Kirby |
| Succeeded by | Morgan Ortagus |
| Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs | |
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Acting
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| In office March 13, 2018 – October 10, 2018 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Steve Goldstein |
| Succeeded by | Michelle Giuda (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Heather Ann Nauert
January 27, 1970 Rockford, Illinois, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Scott Norby
(m. 2000) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | Pine Manor College Arizona State University Mount Vernon Seminary and College (BA) Columbia University (MA) |
Heather Anne Nauert (born January 27, 1970) is an American journalist and former government official. She worked as the main spokesperson for the United States Department of State from 2017 to 2019 during the Donald Trump administration. She also served as the acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs.
Before working for the government, Heather Nauert had a long career in broadcast journalism. She was a news anchor and correspondent for major news channels like Fox News Channel and ABC News. She was known for her work on the news program Fox & Friends.
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Early Life and Education
Heather Nauert grew up in Rockford, Illinois, and spent part of her childhood in Wisconsin. Her father, Peter Nauert, worked as an executive in the insurance business. She has three brothers named Justin, Jonathan, and Joseph.
She went to Keith Country Day School in Rockford, Illinois. Later, she moved to Washington, D.C., for an internship. She earned her bachelor's degree in communications from Mount Vernon College for Women. She then received her master's degree in journalism from Columbia University.
Career in Journalism
Heather Nauert spent almost 20 years as a news anchor and correspondent. She worked at Fox News and ABC News. During her time as a journalist, she covered many important events. These included the September 11 terror attacks, the Iraq War, and the genocide in Darfur, Sudan.
She also reported on four U.S. presidential elections. She covered both Republican and Democratic conventions. She also reported on a presidential inauguration and the 2008 financial crisis. Nauert anchored news coverage of major terrorist attacks in Boston, Orlando, and San Bernardino.
In 1996, Nauert was a reporter for the business program First Business. She worked for Fox News from 1998 to 2005. She started as a contributor and then became a correspondent. She often appeared on The Big Story, where she later became a co-anchor in 2007.
She left Fox News and joined ABC News from 2005 to 2007. There, she worked as a general assignment correspondent. She contributed to shows like ABC World News Tonight, Good Morning America, and Nightline.
While at ABC, she was nominated for an Emmy Award. This was for her detailed report on teenage girls in Iraq during the war. In 2007, Nauert returned to Fox News. She co-hosted The Big Story with John Gibson until 2008.
She also co-anchored local newscasts in New York City. In 2012, Nauert rejoined Fox News Channel full time. She appeared regularly on Fox & Friends.
Reporting from Iraq
As a reporter for Fox News and ABC News, Nauert traveled to Baghdad, Fallujah, Irbil, and Jordan. She covered the start of the Iraq War, the insurgency, and the country's rebuilding. She also reported on Saddam Hussein's trial and death. She covered the first free election and the daily lives of Iraqi people.
Nauert said that the war had a lasting impact on service members and their families. She reported from Iraq for about six weeks at a time. She felt it was an honor to cover such an important story.
Covering the September 11 Attacks
Nauert covered the 9/11 terror attacks from New York City. She was working as a correspondent for the Fox News Channel at the time. Her experiences were shared in the book "At Ground Zero: 25 Stories from Young Reporters Who Were There."
Government Service
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On April 24, 2017, Heather Nauert began her first role in government. The United States Department of State announced she would be the new State Department spokesperson. She held her first press conference five weeks later. She often appeared on TV in this role.
After another official left, Nauert was named acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. This was the fourth-highest position in the State Department. In this role, she managed a large budget and almost 1,000 employees. She was the highest-ranking woman in the department at the time.
Nauert worked closely with two Secretaries of State, Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo. She helped communicate U.S. foreign policy to the world. She also managed public messages for the 75,000 people in the State Department. This included nearly 300 U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide.
She helped with important department projects. These included putting pressure on North Korea with sanctions. She also worked to hold China accountable for its actions in the South China Sea. She helped fight against false information from Russia, China, and Iran.
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In May 2018, Nauert was part of a small team that went with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on a secret trip to North Korea. Their goal was to bring three Americans home. She advised Secretary Pompeo during his meetings with North Korean officials. They planned the important meeting between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.
At the end of these meetings, North Korea agreed to release three Americans. They had been held in a prison in Pyongyang. President Trump announced the news as the Americans flew home. This decision helped set the stage for the summit between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.
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Nauert spoke against the Iraqi Kurdistan's decision to hold an independence vote in September 2017. When the United States left Unesco, Nauert explained that the U.S. owed a lot of money and that Unesco had a history of anti-Israel bias.
In April 2018, Nauert supported the Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen. She also spoke against "Iran's bad influence" in Yemen. In May 2018, Nauert said that the U.S. was against actions against Israel at the International Criminal Court. She believed it would not help achieve peace.
Nauert called for the release of Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia. She stated that the U.S. was worried about the increasing number of people held by the Russian government for political or religious reasons. She urged Russia to release them and stop using its legal system to stop peaceful actions.
Nauert spoke out against the genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Myanmar. She said that those responsible would be held accountable. She visited Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh, the world's largest refugee camp. There, she met with Rohingya refugees and aid groups.
In August 2018, Canada asked for the release of Saudi human rights activist Raif Badawi and his sister. Saudi Arabia reacted by expelling Canada's ambassador and stopping trade. Nauert said that Saudi Arabia and Canada needed to solve this issue diplomatically.
Nauert also criticized China's re-education camps. She spoke about human rights violations against Uyghurs and other Muslim groups in China's Xinjiang province. She said that hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of people had been sent to detention centers.
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Proposed Role at the United Nations
On December 7, 2018, President Trump announced he would nominate Nauert to be United States Ambassador to the United Nations. News outlets noted that she had quickly risen in the State Department. They also mentioned her limited official foreign policy experience. However, as a reporter, she had covered many international conflicts.
President Trump never formally nominated Nauert. She later withdrew her name from consideration on February 16, 2019. She mentioned family reasons for her decision. Trump then nominated Ambassador Kelly Craft for the role.
Post-Government Work
After leaving public office, Nauert joined several boards. These groups focus on national security and international relations. In 2019, Trump appointed Nauert to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. She also joined the President's Commission on White House Fellowships.
Nauert serves on the Board of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. This group supports strong U.S. foreign policy. She also joined the Board of Advisors for the Center for New American Security. This group researches defense and national security policies.
Since 2021, Nauert has been on the National Advisory Board of Warriors in Quiet Waters. This group helps post-9/11 combat veterans to live meaningful lives. She also advises companies and non-profit groups. In 2023, she joined the Federal Advisory Board of Armis, a cybersecurity firm. She is also a contributor to the British TV network, ITV News.
Supporting Veterans
In 2021, Nauert spoke on KBUL News Talk radio. She discussed her work supporting wounded veterans. She also talked about those left behind in Afghanistan. She discussed the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and how her organization helps veterans.
Fulbright Scholarship Board
On March 29, 2019, President Trump appointed Nauert to the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. This 12-member board oversees the Fulbright program.
International Relations Work
Ukraine
In 2024, Heather Nauert traveled to Ukraine with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. She saw the conditions there as the country entered its third year of war. She took a 1,300-mile road trip. She visited bombed hospitals and schools. She spoke with civilians, aid groups, and government officials.
Nauert shared her experiences from Ukraine in interviews and articles. She wrote several opinion pieces about the importance of aid to Ukraine. She said that the United States and its partners should give Ukraine the military help they need.
In February 2024, she met with Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova. Nauert shared on social media her commitment to the Ukrainian people.
Hungary
In the spring of 2024, Nauert visited Hungary. She spoke at Ludovika University of Public Service about U.S. foreign policy. She discussed the importance of a strong NATO alliance. She also expressed concern about Russia's war in Ukraine. She warned about China's attempts to gain influence in other countries.
Israel
In September 2022, Nauert reported on Hezbollah terror tunnels. These tunnels were found by the Israel Defense Forces near Israel's border with Lebanon.
After the October 7th attacks in Israel, she wrote about the threat that Iran and its allies pose to Israel and America.
Poland
In 2021, Nauert joined the Warner Brothers Discovery Journalism Advisory Group. In October 2022, she spoke at the Warsaw Security Forum in Poland. She discussed national security, the press, and political divisions.
In February 2024, Nauert was interviewed by Polish television. She expressed strong support for Ukraine. She said that Ukrainians are willing to fight for their country. They are asking NATO allies for military equipment and financial help.
Afghanistan
Nauert was involved with Task Force Pineapple. This was a volunteer group of former military and government officials. They helped Afghan allies get to safety as the U.S. government left Afghanistan. Nauert said she was very concerned about leaving behind people who had helped the U.S.
Personal Life
Heather Nauert lives in New York.
