Trump's Pick for UN Ambassador
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated New York Representative Elise Stefanik to serve as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. This appointment places a key House ally within his administration.
Stefanik, 40, has been a vocal defender of Trump in Congress. Her confirmation by the new, GOP-led Senate is likely when the president-elect takes office in January. This will trigger a race to fill both Stefanik's seat in the lower chamber and her position as chair of the Republican conference.
Stefanik has been one of Trump's staunchest defenders in the House, emerging as a crucial ally during his first impeachment proceedings in 2019. She also introduced a nonbinding resolution last year that sought to "expunge" both of Trump's impeachments by the House.
Stefanik is the highest-ranking woman in the House, serving as the GOP conference chair. She replaced former Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming after Cheney was ousted for criticizing Trump following the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol.
While Stefanik supported earlier packages sending assistance to Ukraine, she voted against a plan to send $60.8 billion to aid Ukraine in its war against Russia in April.
The congresswoman was among a group of more than 100 House Republicans who signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief filed with the Supreme Court after the 2020 election. This brief was part of a longshot bid to overturn the election results in four battleground states. She also joined GOP lawmakers in objecting to certifying Pennsylvania's election results.
However, the congresswoman also condemned the violence of January 6 during a speech on the House floor, calling it a "truly tragic day" for the country.
Stefanik graduated from Harvard University and worked in the White House for President George W. Bush. She also was an adviser to former House Speaker Paul Ryan during the 2012 presidential campaign.
Stefanik and her husband, Matt, have one son, Sam.