President-Elect Donald Trump has reportedly tapped one of his staunchest allies in the House of Representatives, Elise Stefanik (R-NY), for a high-profile role as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, according to a new report from CNN. While neither Trump nor Stefanik have officially commented on the offer, the news comes as little surprise given Stefanik’s vocal support for Trump and her rising prominence within the GOP.
Stefanik, who currently serves as the fourth-highest-ranking Republican in the House, has been a key figure in Trump’s political comeback. She was one of the first prominent lawmakers to endorse his 2024 presidential bid and was previously floated as a possible vice presidential pick. Her selection as U.N. ambassador would mark a significant shift in her career, moving her from the halls of Congress to the global stage of the United Nations.
If Stefanik accepts the offer, her departure would trigger a special election to fill her seat in New York’s 21st Congressional District. Given the district’s solid Republican lean, with a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R +9, it’s likely that the GOP would retain control of the seat. Nonetheless, a vacancy could lead to a brief political scramble as candidates vie to replace her.
Stefanik’s foreign policy record aligns closely with Trump’s America First agenda. She has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s foreign policy, particularly its handling of the War in Gaza, the conflict in Ukraine, and the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. Her tough stance on these issues, combined with her unwavering support for Israel, makes her an appealing choice for Trump, who has long been critical of the United Nations’ perceived bias against the Jewish state.
Stefanik has not minced words when it comes to the U.N., calling it a “hotbed of antisemitism” after revelations that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employed a Hamas leader. “President Trump rightfully cut off taxpayer dollars from funding UNRWA,” she said in a recent statement, lambasting the Biden administration for reversing that decision. Stefanik also called for strict oversight of U.S. contributions to the U.N., condemning its funding practices as wasteful and politically motivated.
In addition to her criticisms of the U.N.’s handling of Middle Eastern conflicts, Stefanik has pushed back against the organization’s climate agenda, particularly its call for reduced meat consumption and a pivot to electric vehicles. “Democrats want to hand an additional $8 BILLION to the United Nations to pour into a slush fund,” Stefanik wrote in a fiery 2022 post on X. “In case they’ve forgotten, our country is $30 TRILLION in debt!”
Should Stefanik accept the ambassadorship, her presence at the U.N. would likely signal a return to Trump’s more confrontational approach to international diplomacy. Her track record suggests she would be an assertive advocate for U.S. interests, making waves at a global institution she has often criticized. As Trump prepares to take office once again, the choice of Stefanik for this role would be yet another sign that he plans to challenge the status quo on the world stage.
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