President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Rep. Elise Stefanik, the fourth-highest-ranking House GOP member, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik has recently made headlines for pressuring university leaders to address rising incidents of anti-Semitic protests and violence on campuses following the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks in Israel.
In a statement to the New York Post, Trump expressed his confidence in Stefanik, saying, “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.”
Stefanik accepted the nomination, sharing her gratitude and commitment to the role. “I am truly honored to earn President Trump’s nomination to serve in his Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations,” she told the Post.
“During my conversation with President Trump, I expressed how deeply humbled I am to accept his nomination and look forward to earning the support of my colleagues in the United States Senate.”
Stefanik highlighted her hopes for America’s role on the world stage, adding, “President Trump’s historic landslide election has given hope to the American people and serves as a reminder that brighter days are ahead—both at home and abroad. America continues to be the beacon of the world, but we expect and must demand that our friends and allies be strong partners in the peace we seek.”
A loyal defender of Trump, Stefanik has actively supported him amid ongoing legal challenges, filing ethics complaints against judges and prosecutors involved in Trump’s cases.
She has argued that the investigations against him represent election interference.
Stefanik has also scrutinized leaders at Ivy League universities for their handling of anti-Semitic incidents and the campus response following the October 7 attack in Israel, actions that led to some university leaders stepping down.
In the recent election, Stefanik secured another term in Congress, winning 62.3% of the vote for New York’s District 21 seat, defeating Democratic challenger Paula Collins, who garnered 37.7%. According to the New York Post, her seat will soon require a special election.
By law, Governor Kathy Hochul has 10 days from the seat’s vacancy to schedule the election, which will be held 70-80 days from that date. In the special election, the GOP candidate will be selected by county party chairs rather than a primary process. A source familiar with the district, which has a strong pro-Trump and Republican-leaning base, assured that “the seat will not remain vacant for long.”