The Blubber

President-elect Donald Trump has selected House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik of New York as the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

“I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations,” Trump announced. “Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”

Stefanik, known for her outspoken support of Israel, brings a critical stance toward the U.N., signaling Trump’s intent to advocate strongly for Israel on the world stage and take a firm approach with international bodies and alliances.

Stefanik, 40, has gained prominence among Republicans as a staunch Trump ally and defender of Israel. Given her leadership position and established relationships in Congress, her nomination is expected to encounter minimal opposition from Senate Republicans.

CNN previously reported Trump had extended the offer to Stefanik.

Stefanik has repeatedly criticized the U.N. for alleged antisemitism, objecting to its stance on Israel's actions in Gaza and its opposition to Israeli settlements in the West Bank. In October, she called for a “complete reassessment of U.S. funding” for the U.N. in response to Palestinian Authority efforts to expel Israel from the U.N. over alleged human rights abuses in Gaza and the West Bank. She also supported withholding U.S. contributions to the U.N. Relief Works Agency, which aids Palestinians in occupied territories, due to concerns over alleged staff ties to Hamas.

On Ukraine, Stefanik backed early aid packages to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses and co-sponsored Republican legislation to sanction Russia's economy and bolster U.S. military assistance to Kyiv ahead of Russia's invasion in February 2022. However, she opposed a $61 billion aid package to Ukraine in April, citing concerns over U.S. border security.

Elected to Congress in 2014 at 30, Stefanik, a Harvard graduate and former aide to George W. Bush, initially took moderate positions. However, as her district leaned more Republican, she aligned herself more closely with Trump, gaining national attention for her defenses during Trump’s first impeachment trial in 2019. She later advanced in Republican leadership, challenging then-Conference Chair Liz Cheney over Cheney’s stance on holding Trump accountable for the Jan. 6 attack.

Recently, Stefanik garnered praise from Republicans and Jewish leaders after questioning college presidents on handling campus hate speech against Jewish students related to the Israel-Gaza conflict, which contributed to the resignations of Harvard and University of Pennsylvania presidents.