7 months ago
39
President-elect Donald Trump has tapped Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) arsenic his prime to service arsenic ambassador to the United Nations, choosing 1 of his staunchest allies successful the House to instrumentality connected a apical diplomatic post.
Trump confirmed the prime successful a statement to The New York Post precocious Sunday.
“I americium honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to service successful my Cabinet arsenic U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and astute America First fighter,” Trump said.
CNN first reported that Trump had offered Stefanik the role.
The congresswoman, who is apt to get confirmed by a bulk GOP Senate, is expected to beryllium a combative beingness astatine the United Nations and an outspoken advocator for Trump’s “America First” overseas policy, which pushes allies to lend much to shared defence efforts and takes a captious attack to large institutions similar the U.N. itself.
Stefanik has constricted overseas argumentation and diplomatic experience. She has served connected the House Armed Services Committee and connected the Permanent Select Committee connected Intelligence. She is an outspoken protagonist of Israel and has previously decried the United Nations arsenic “antisemitic.” Stefanik addressed the Knesset successful Jerusalem successful May to pledge continued U.S. enactment for Israel.
The prime of Stefanik could person repercussions for Trump’s efforts to get his docket done the House. Republicans are expected to person an extremely constrictive majority, and that borderline volition temporarily go slimmer if Stefanik vacates her spot to articulation the administration.
Stefanik, 40, had agelong been considered a GOP rising star, and she has breached done successful caller years arsenic she became an outspoken Trump ally. She fiercely defended Trump during his archetypal impeachment successful 2019, joined GOP enactment successful 2021 and sharply questioned Ivy League presidents astir field antisemitism aft the October, 2023 Hamas attacks connected Israel.
She has served arsenic seat of the House Republican Conference since 2021 and has represented an upstate New York legislature territory since 2015. She was 30 erstwhile she archetypal won election, making her the youngest pistillate elected to Congress astatine the time. She antecedently worked successful the George W. Bush White House.
The relation of ambassador to the United Nations was held during Trump’s archetypal word by Nikki Haley and aboriginal by Kelly Craft. Trump announced Saturday Haley would not person a relation successful his 2nd administration.
The congresswoman had publically spoken astir her willingness to service successful the Trump administration, including instantly aft Trump’s predetermination triumph past week.
“He needs beardown allies. I’m honored to person my sanction successful the mix, but I’m focused connected serving the president nevertheless helium sees fit, whether that’s passing the docket successful Congress oregon serving successful his administration,” Stefanik said past week connected a New York City vigor show.
