Since Sunday Ambassador Nikki Haley has been taking criticism from the media and distasteful pundits over the apparent disconnect between her statements on Russian sanctions, and the White House’s official position.

“She got ahead of the curve,” said Trump economic advisor Larry Kudlow on Tuesday. “She’s done a great job. She’s a very effective ambassador, but there might have been some momentary confusion about that.”

Not so fast, says Ambassador Haley.

“With all due respect, I don't get confused,” Nikki Haley said in a statement @DanaPerino just read on Fox News. https://t.co/5RdHwmkpQU

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) April 17, 2018

If you can’t see the tweet, Haley, always the graceful southerner, said “With all due respect, I don’t get confused.”

If this nonsense blows up into a media scandal President Trump could lose his most vital foreign policy asset at a crucial time. Haley is utterly critical and superbly effective. Is it worth blowing her up to preserve one man’s pride?

If you think Ambassador Haley is easily flustered or caught off guard, just go watch the videos of her operate at the United Nations Security Council where she’s been sticking it to the Russians with poise, grace and refinement.

Haley is in possession of qualities this White House cannot afford to lose. Not least the unique in this administration ability to deliver crushing blows to Russia with little to no blowback from the Trump base.

This should not turn into an exchange of insults, and if Haley has anything to do with it, it won’t. But she rightly also won’t back off of a correct position or truthful statement.

Let’s just hope this doesn’t become some unnecessary distraction amid such serious events.