President-elect Donald Trump has nominated New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, citing her as a strong America First fighter. Stefanik, 40, has been a vocal defender of Trump in Congress and is expected to be confirmed by the GOP-led Senate when Trump takes office in January. This nomination will lead to a race to fill Stefanik’s seat in the House and to succeed her as chair of the Republican conference.
Stefanik was elected to represent New York’s 21st Congressional District in 2014, becoming the youngest woman elected to Congress at the age of 30. She currently serves on committees such as Armed Services, Education and Workforce, and Intelligence. Additionally, she is a member of the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, which was established in 2023 during Republican control of the House. Stefanik is also the highest-ranking woman in the House, holding the position of GOP conference chair after replacing Liz Cheney, who was ousted for criticizing Trump.
As a staunch supporter of Trump, Stefanik has defended him during his impeachment proceedings in 2019 and introduced a resolution seeking to expunge both of his impeachments by the House. She has made headlines for grilling university presidents about their response to antisemitic incidents following terror attacks on Israel. Stefanik has supported financial aid to Ukraine but voted against a plan to send $60.8 billion to aid Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. She was among House Republicans who challenged the results of the 2020 election in court and objected to certifying Pennsylvania’s election results, citing concerns about unconstitutional overreach.
Before her political career, Stefanik worked in the White House during George W. Bush’s administration and served as an adviser to former House Speaker Paul Ryan during the 2012 presidential campaign. She graduated from Harvard University and is married with one son. Throughout her tenure in Congress, Stefanik has been a strong supporter of Trump’s policies and has defended him against various challenges, including impeachment proceedings and election controversies. Her nomination as U.S. ambassador to the UN is expected to be a significant step in strengthening relations with foreign entities and promoting America First principles on the global stage.
