Marie Yovanovitch is speaking at Georgetown, her first public comments since leaving the administration.
"There is nothing more gratifying than working for the American people, making the U.S. and the world more democratic, more prosperous and more secure," Yovanovitch says.
"There is nothing more gratifying than working for the American people, making the U.S. and the world more democratic, more prosperous and more secure," Yovanovitch says.
Yovanovitch obliquely criticized Trump foreign policy, saying the U.S. may be "abandoned" by allies. "The policy process has been replaced by decisions emanating from the top," she says, and officials are afraid to "express concerns about policy even behind closed doors."
Yovanovitch: “Working off of facts is not the work of the deep state, but of the deeply committed state.”
Yovanovitch on the past few months: "Every person I've ever known in my whole life has reached out over the past six or seven months, and that's been an incredible blessing."
She says she's gotten through it with "faith, family, friends," and - now that she's retired - "fun."
She says she's gotten through it with "faith, family, friends," and - now that she's retired - "fun."
Yovanovitch says that the State Department needs to do a better job of explaining what it does to the American public. She also says that "the media does a very important job illuminating crises around the world."
Yovanovitch on keeping lines of communication open: "It's in our interest to have allies and partners around the world. We never know where the next hot spot is going to be."
"You never know who's going to be president next! Talking about overseas," she adds quickly, laughing.
"You never know who's going to be president next! Talking about overseas," she adds quickly, laughing.
Yovanovitch on the U.S. relationship with Ukraine: "The Ukrainians are very interested in a strong and solid relationship with the United States...Our support is Ukraine's greatest strategic advantage. And Ukrainians know that."
