Donald Trump has confirmed to the New York Post that he will be nominating Republican Representative Elise Stefanik to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. The President-elect praised Stefanik as a “strong, tough, and smart America First fighter” in his statement on Sunday.
Elise Stefanik, who currently serves as the House Republican Conference Chair, has been a prominent figure within the GOP and a staunch ally of Trump. The 40-year-old is well recognized for defending Trump in 2019 during his first impeachment trial. Even after Trump lost the 2020 election, she continued to support him by disputing the certification of Joe Biden’s victory and backing his claims that the election had been rigged.
Elise Stefanik was elected to Congress about a decade ago as the youngest woman ever to hold that position. At the time, she was recognized for her moderate views and independent approach. Despite her current alignment with Trump, she had previously voted against his 2017 tax plan, which happened to be a key legislative victory for his administration. Over time, as her district became more conservative, Stefanik’s positions evolved to align more closely with Trump’s agenda.
Stefanik has also been a vocal critic of the United Nations, accusing it of antisemitism last month and calling for a reassessment of U.S. funding to the organization. According to Politico.com, she has also supported blocking U.S. aid to the United Nations Relief Works Agency, citing concerns over its ties to Hamas.
Alongside Stefanik, Trump has announced Susie Wiles as his White House Chief of Staff and Tom Homan as his “Border Czar.” Unlike these appointments, Stefanik’s role as UN Ambassador will require Senate confirmation. T
rump’s decision to nominate Stefanik shows his intent to take a hardline stance on international organizations and alliances, particularly in support of Israel. Stefanik’s extensive relationships in Congress and her support for Trump’s policies are expected to aid her confirmation process in the Senate.
As Trump works on assembling his administration, he has mentioned a few other possible appointments, such as billionaire Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously ran as an independent presidential candidate.
