NEW YORK – United States Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki HaleyFriday angrily denied rumors she was having an affair with President DonaldTrump, calling the speculation “disgusting” and “highly offensive.”

Haley’s comments came in an interview to Politico’s Women Rule podcastafter Michael Wolff, author of an explosive tell-all book about Trump’sfirst year in office, hinted at the affair last week on HBO’s Real TimeWith Bill Maher.

In the incendiary book Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House, Wolffwrites, “The president had been spending a notable amount of private timewith Haley on Air Force One and was seen to be grooming her for a nationalpolitical future.

Wolff has been widely criticized both for factual errors in the book andhis reporting tactics. He told Maher he was “absolutely sure” that Trumpwas cheating on his wife Melania, though apparently not confident enough topublish it in the best-seller.

Haley denounced the accusation, saying such rumors are a predictablemisfortune for successful women with strong opinions.

“It is absolutely not true,she told the podcast. “I have literally been onAir Force One once and there were several people in the room when I wasthere,” Haley said, a reference to a flight in July from Washington, D.C.,to Long Island, New York.

Born as Nimrata Randhawa to Sikh parents who migrated from Indian Punjab,Haley created history by becoming the first woman to occupy the governor’smansion of South Carolina.

She has since converted to Christianity, but occasionally goes to Sikhservices at her parents request.Haley, 46, is married to Michael Haley, an officer in US defence department.