WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - Goldman Sachs executive Dina Powell has withdrawn from consideration to succeed Ms Nikki Haley as the United States ambassador to the United Nations, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday (Oct 11).

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

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

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

Mr Trump said on Wednesday that he had several candidates to succeed Ms Haley in the job of representing the US at the UN.