WASHINGTON (CN) - Jostled from her boast about preventing a chemical attack in Syria this week, United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley stunned members of Congress on Wednesday by saying she and President Trump have never discussed Russia’s 2016 election meddling.
"The biggest question that we've had recently is Russia's involvement and what they've done to our democracy," Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., told the former governor of South Carolina. "And for you not to have had a conversation with the president of the United States about that involvement is absolutely shocking to me."
Haley emphasized that the issue simply is not on her radar.
"I don't get asked about any of those things at the United Nations," she told the House Foreign Affairs Committee, insisting that her focus has been on U.S. leadership and its global standing.
Haley said the White House spoke to its global standing Monday in issuing a stern warning to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
"I think by us continuing to remind Iran and Russia that, while they choose to back Assad, that this was something we were not going to put up with," Haley said. "So I would like to think that the president saved many innocent men, women and children."
Trump specifically deserves the credit for preventing a chemical attack in Syria, Haley testified.
"I can tell you that due to the president's actions, we did not see an incident," Haley said.
Haley did not dispute the finding of various U.S. intelligence agencies about the interference America saw in its 2016 election, and she said has been outspoken in criticizing Russia for it.
"You've seen me bash Russia on Ukraine, you've seen me bash Russia on Syria, you've seen me call out Russia if we see any sort of wrongdoings by Russia," she said, counting each point on her fingers as she spoke.
"And yes - I do think Russia meddled in our elections,” Haley continued. “And yes I have said that to the president.”
Not once, Haley added, has the president called her and asked her to stop bashing Russia.
"Mr. Meeks, we have really put a strong voice of the U.S. at the UN,” Haley told the New York congressman. “I mean, they know we're back. They know we're strong.”
Meeks disputed this point, however, highlighting research that says the mixed messages from the Trump administration have frustrated constituents and allies alike who feel betrayed and believe the president has diminished U.S. standing in the world.