[1] She was elected as a deputy representative to the Parliament of Norway from Akershus for the terms 1993-1997 and 2001–2005, and entered the Labour Party's central board in 2002, but mainly worked as a researcher in the Fafo Foundation from 2000 to 2005.

[1] Following the 2021 election, Huitfeldt was seen as a strong favourite to become minister of foreign affairs, in addition to Espen Barth Eide and Raymond Johansen.

Huitfeldt defended the action, arguing that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs recommended it, and that the trip was a representation mission, and that her husband in this case, served as her companion.

[10] In March 2010, Huitfeldt announced that it was unnecessary for the state to take over the ownership of the digital variant of Store norske leksikon despite a prior proposal that ensured it would be taken down by 1 July 2010.

[11] Following controversy over the appointment of a new director for the Language Council of Norway in October 2010, Huitfeldt issued an apology after four out of the seven board members resigned.

[15] After the new study into the Munch museum in mid September, the family demanded that Huitfeldt have a say in the critical process after MP Ib Thomsen called on her to assist the municipality with finding a solution.

[18] On 12 December, Huitfeldt put forward a proposal to give recently educated working women a full time job.

[19] In late January 2013, Huitfeldt encouraged people to notify if they hear or overhear someone boasting about having tricked the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration, following the release of the 2012 report of social security fraud.

[23] A day ahead of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council meeting, Huitfeldt met with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov in Tromsø, where they also put flowers on the grave of fallen Soviet soldiers.

[28] In December, she and fellow ministers Marte Mjøs Persen and Jan Christian Vestre, and Crown Prince Haakon visited the United States to promote Norwegian interests notably regarding "War, the Arctic, offshore wind, contemporary art and Christmas trees".

[30] Red Party leader Bjørnar Moxnes sent a written question to Huitfeldt on 21 December, asking her to do something to prevent the extradition of Julian Assange.

Moxnes in return criticised her, saying: "The Foreign Minister's tacit consent to Norway's closest allies killing Assange is a shameful betrayal of freedom of expression and human rights".

Huitfeldt also expressed concerns about democracy in both Hungary and Poland, and emphasised that Norway doesn't want conflicts, but would not back down on their demands on the rule of law and independent civil society.

[32] Two days later, she responded to a written question submitted by Red Party leader Bjørnar Moxnes in December, regarding Israel's listing of six Palestinian organisations.

[33] At a joint press conference with defence minister Odd Roger Enoksen on 14 January, Huitfeldt expressed concerns about NATO's negotiations with Russia.

[34] Huitfeldt announced on 11 February that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs would be asking Norwegian citizens in Ukraine to come back home, as a reaction in anticipation of a possible invasion by Russia.

"[43] On 15 June, Huitfeldt visited UN humanitarian workers on the Turkish-Syrian border, and to meet the Turkish foreign minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu to discuss NATO expansion.

She expressed hopes for a resolution to be reached at the upcoming NATO summit, and commented on Swedish and Finnish membership: "I am concentrating on finding a solution to this question.

Regarding accusations of harbouring PKK members similar to those made against Sweden and Finland, she said: "This is something we have had different assessments of, and something I have rejected in meetings with representatives of the Turkish authorities.

[44] On 24 July, she condemned a Russian attack against a grain harbour in Odesa, Ukraine; calling the situation in the country "pitch black" in the wake of the Russian-Ukrainian corn export agreement.

[48] On 6 October, Huitfeldt and justice minister Emilie Enger Mehl announced that Norway would be sharpening its security and control regarding Russian fishing vessels after receiving information that called for said need.

[49] On 20 October, Amnesty International Norway criticised Huitfeldt for seemingly not expressing clear opposition to human rights violations in Qatar.

[51] In early December, she visited London and met her British counterpart, James Cleverly, to discuss continued military cooperation and attended the annual Christmas tree lighting.

[52] In January 2023, she criticised Israel's decision to withhold funding to Palestine in response to the International Court of Justice deciding to investigate the occupation of Palestinian areas.

She added that Norway has put forward their views to the Chinese, and also called Russia a "dangerous neighbour" and unpredictable in the current circumstances.

[57] In late August, Huitfeldt informed Verdens Gang that she had breached several impartiality rules with her husband Ola Flem having bought stocks in several weapons and fisheries companies.

Both Huitfeldt and her husband apologised for the situation, while prime minister Jonas Gahr Støre expressed that he still had trust in her based on her apology.

[59] In the wake of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially expressed that it was in no capacity to assist Norwegian citizens stranded in Tel Aviv.

[61] On 16 October, Huitfeldt was dismissed in favour of Espen Barth Eide in a cabinet reshuffle as a consequence of her husband's stock trading.

This was however controversial due to her not having worked for the Norwegian Foreign Service, while it also being unconventional to nominate a full time politician to an ambassadorial position.