President-elect Donald Trump has selected Representative Elise Stefanik, the House Republican Conference chair and a long-time ally from New York, to serve as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
This marks Trump’s first Cabinet nomination for his second term in office.
“I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump stated Monday.
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., expressed gratitude for the nomination, saying she felt “truly honored” by Trump’s announcement. “I stand ready to advance President Donald J. Trump’s restoration of America First peace through strength leadership on the world stage on Day One at the United Nations,” Stefanik said.
The news of her appointment was first reported by CNN.
Rep. Elise Stefanik Key Background
Stefanik, 40, has been an outspoken supporter of Israel, especially following the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Over the past year, she has also been vocal against antisemitism on college campuses. Just before last week’s election, she renewed her call to defund the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, claiming it has been infiltrated by Hamas.
Allegations from Israel suggest that some staff members from the organization were involved in the October 7 attacks, leading to the firing of at least 10 people. In late October, Israel’s parliament voted to ban the agency’s operations within its borders.
Rep. Elise Stefanik has led the House Republican Conference since May 2021, taking over after Rep. Liz Cheney was ousted due to her criticisms of Trump. Since 2015, Stefanik has represented New York’s 21st Congressional District, which spans upstate New York along the Vermont and Canadian borders.
Trump’s decision to appoint current House members could complicate the balance of power in Congress. With control of the House still in question, Republicans face the challenge of maintaining a narrow majority and managing internal divisions that have made effective control difficult over recent sessions.
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