Trump says 'no one more competent in the world' than daughter Ivanka to replace Nikki Haley as UN ambassador

Nikki Haley announced she would be resigning from the role, in shock move

There is no one more qualified “in the world” to become the next US ambassador to the United Nations than Ivanka Trump, her father Donald has claimed.

Speaking to the media on the White House lawn, the US president described his second child as "dynamite".

He told reporters that he has heard the 36-year-old's name discussed for the post, but said if he selected her he'd be accused of nepotism.

The position became available after Nikki Haley announced she would be resigning from the role and will be leaving the administration by the end of 2018.

Discussing potential replacements, Mr Trump appeared enthusiastic about his daughter's suitability for the position, saying: "I’ve heard Ivanka, how good would Ivanka be?

"It has nothing to do with nepotism but people who know know that Ivanka would be dynamite. I’d be accused of nepotism even if there’s no one more competent in the world."

Despite her father's recommendation, Ms Trump later ruled herself out of the role.

In a tweet she said her father will “nominate a formidable replacement for Ambassador Haley”. She added: “That replacement will not be me.”

At an earlier meeting with Ms Haley in the White House Oval Office, Mr Trump referred to her as a "very special" person.

He said he had known for six months that she may want to take time off from the role to spend time with her family.

She in turn paid tributes to Ivanka and her husband Jared, who are both presidential advisers.

"I can't say enough good things about Jared and Ivanka," she said. "Jared is such a hidden genius that no one understands. Ivanka has just been a great friend. They do a lot of things behind the scenes that I wish more people knew about because we are a better country because they're in the administration."

Ms Haley announced her decision to resign on Tuesday morning (AP)

Ms Haley, a former governor of South Carolina, had her nomination approved in the Senate by 96 votes to four against, before she took the role.

Mr Trump had discussed the possibility of Ms Haley "hopefully" returning to the Trump administration "in a different capacity."

Her resignation came after weeks of wrangling over the new Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was officially sworn in on Monday.

Mr Trump apologised to the embattled judge and his family for “the terrible suffering” they had been been forced to endure as he was sworn in, after earlier claiming that sexual assault allegations against his nominee were “a hoax” brought about “by people who are evil”.

The US president said that “under historic scrutiny”, his pick for the nation's top court was “proven innocent”.