Smart move. All those nomination of sitting Representatives was worrysome.
The Trump administration is withdrawing its nomination of Representative Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) to serve as the next Ambassador to the United Nations to help protect the slim Republican majority in the House.
“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,” President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social.
“I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC. Thank you Elise!”
President Trump nominated Stefanik for the position in November shortly after his decisive election victory, rewarding one of his strongest allies in the House and a leading advocate against antisemitism on college campuses.
A strong supporter of Israel, Stefanik was expected to be easily confirmed by the GOP-controlled Senate as it attempts to push through Trump’s nominees as quickly as possible. Her confirmation hearing was set to take place in early April after House Republicans passed several pieces of legislation with her vote.
Stefanik currently represents New York’s 21st congressional district, a safely Republican seat she won in 2024 with 62 percent of the vote. New York would have held a special election for her seat upon her resignation and confirmation. Republicans have become wary about special elections to state and federal offices because of high turnout and enthusiasm from Democratic voters compared to the lower participation rates among the increasingly diverse and working-class GOP electorate.
“It is well known Republicans have a razor-thin House majority, and Elise’s agreement to withdraw her nomination will allow us to keep one of the toughest, most resolute members of our Conference in place to help drive forward President Trump’s America First policies,” Speaker Mike Johnson (R., La.) posted on X.
“There is no doubt she would have served with distinction as our ambassador to the United Nations, but we are grateful for her willingness to sacrifice that position and remain in Congress to help us save the country. I will invite her to return to the leadership table immediately.”
Stefanik was previously House GOP Conference Chair, a high ranking position in House Republican leadership that Representative Lisa McClain (Mich.) now holds. Trump and Johnson’s comments indicate Stefanik will be added back into the House GOP leadership, but it remains to be seen what position she will take.
Stefanik gained national attention during a 2023 House Education Committee hearing when she grilled the presidents of Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on their school policies on campus antisemitism and slogans calling for the destruction of Israel.
Her scrutiny of then-Penn President Liz Magill contributed to her resignation the following week. Former Harvard President Claudine Gay’s downfall began with Stefanik’s pressure and culminated in her resignation last January after explosive reports on plagiarism throughout her academic career discredited her prior work.
Reacting inside the Capitol, Senator John Fetterman (D., Pa.), told reporters he was “not surprised” Trump withdrew Stefanik’s nomination because of the House GOP’s incredibly narrow 218-213 majority. Fetterman previously endorsed Stefanik for the U.N. Ambassador role because of their mutually held belief that the international body needs to be held accountable for its anti-Israel posture.
“Well, I just, I’m, I’m, I’m just disappointed, because I think she would have been outstanding,” Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) told NR.
Trump has not yet named a replacement to fill the U.N. Ambassador role. He has already said Nikki Haley, the U.N. Ambassador under Trump from January 2017 to December 2018, will not serve in his administration.