WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has selected Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a high-ranking House Republican and longtime ally, to serve as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. Sources familiar with the decision confirmed the news, highlighting Stefanik’s strong support for Trump and key influence within the GOP.
Stefanik, representing New York and currently the House Republican Conference Chair, has earned a reputation as a loyal Trump supporter. Known for her outspoken defense of Trump during the 2019 impeachment hearings, she rose to prominence when he praised her as a “Republican star.” Since then, she has been a vocal advocate for Trump, even objecting to the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 election win and echoing Trump’s election fraud claims.
Although now firmly in Trump’s camp, Stefanik’s relationship with the president-elect evolved. Initially skeptical of Trump, she criticized his policies and even voted against his landmark 2017 tax reform. At that time, she positioned herself as an “independent voice,” earning accolades from Republican leaders such as former Speaker Paul Ryan, who lauded her as a “builder” in an era of divisive politics. A former aide to Ryan during Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign, Stefanik entered Congress in 2014 as the youngest woman elected at that time.
Stefanik’s shift in allegiance grew as Trump’s popularity surged in her upstate New York district. She supported him in his presidential ambitions and even became a potential running mate as he sought the 2024 Republican nomination. In a CNN interview earlier this year, she said she was “proud to be a top surrogate” for Trump and would “proudly serve” in any future administration.
In her current role, Stefanik holds significant influence within the GOP. She replaced then-Rep. Liz Cheney as House Republican Conference Chair in 2021 after Cheney openly opposed Trump’s claims of election fraud. Serving on committees such as the Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, she has also made headlines for championing conservative values and pushing back on antisemitism, calling for accountability among college leaders during a House hearing on the topic last year.
This nomination for U.N. Ambassador fills a role previously held by Nikki Haley, who served during Trump’s first administration. In a recent social media post, Trump stated he would not be inviting Haley back to the role, signaling a new chapter with Stefanik in the ambassador seat.
As the U.S. Senate prepares for confirmation, Stefanik’s nomination as U.N. Ambassador is expected to reinforce Trump’s “America First” approach on the world stage, as his administration prepares for another term in Washington.
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