On Thursday, President Donald Trump announced that he withdrew the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to become U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik appeared for a confirmation back in January, when she called out the “anti-Semitic rot” within the United Nations, and advanced out of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. However, she never got a vote on the Senate floor.
“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.”
Trump added: “With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People. Speaker Johnson is thrilled! I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC. Thank you Elise!”
Over the past couple of months, Stefanik’s nomination got held up as New York Democrat Governor Kathy Hochul was reportedly expected to slow-walk the election to replace the congresswoman and as Republicans grappled with a slim majority in the House.
Currently, there are 218 Republicans and 213 Democrats in the House. Special elections to find replacements for Trump’s national security adviser, Mike Waltz, and Matt Gaetz — both Republicans from Florida — are set for next week. The other two vacancies are from Democrats who recently died.
Except for Stefanik, the GOP-led Senate has confirmed all members of Trump’s picks for his second-term Cabinet. Stefanik, who has been replaced in the third-ranking position of House GOP Conference chair since her nomination, was even participating in Cabinet meetings.
Trump revealed in November that he was “honored” to nominate Stefanik to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, adding that the congresswoman “is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”
In declaring her acceptance of the nomination, Stefanik said that she stood “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 also took a shot at the Biden administration: “The work ahead is immense as we see antisemitism skyrocketing coupled with four years of catastrophically weak U.S. leadership that significantly weakened our national security and diminished our standing in the eyes of both allies and adversaries.”
Some other Trump 2.0 nominees have withdrawn from consideration, including the president’s initial choice for U.S. Attorney General, Gaetz, and Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, who had been selected to become administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). It is not immediately clear who Trump will pick as Stefanik’s replacement.
