White House Withdraws Stefanik’s Nomination for UN
Concerns regarding the slim 218-213 Republican majority in the House have delayed her nomination.
TroibNews 
The White House has decided to withdraw Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination for the position of United Nations ambassador, as concerns grow regarding the narrow GOP majority in the House, President Donald Trump announced on Thursday.
The New York Republican had not yet resigned her seat and was expected to be confirmed without issue. However, apprehensions about the slim majority among Republicans delayed her confirmation process.
Trump noted on Truth Social that he had requested Stefanik to remain in Congress to aid in pursuing his agenda, describing her as one of his “biggest allies.”
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” he wrote.
Stefanik becomes only the second of Trump’s Cabinet nominees to have their nominations retracted. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz had previously withdrawn his name from consideration for attorney general in November when it became evident that he lacked sufficient Senate votes for confirmation.
This withdrawal highlights the fragile electoral situation that Republicans perceive themselves to be in, alongside their concerns about losing even one vote from their thin majority while they strive to implement Trump's legislative initiatives. While Stefanik won reelection with a 24-point margin last year, there are fears that she could lose her seat given the current political landscape.
CBS reported earlier in the day that Stefanik’s nomination faced serious risks. It remained unclear on Thursday afternoon who would be nominated by the White House to take her place.
Earlier, Majority Leader Steve Scalise expressed confidence that his caucus was ready to move forward without her, signaling optimism about two upcoming special elections in Florida set for April 1, which are expected to increase GOP representation in the House.
"We're going to get these two Florida elections … and then Elise ought to then be able to move forward,” Scalise said. “I hope she’s able to move forward right after that.”
“We’re going to have tight votes all the way through,” he added.
Stefanik, who has served in Congress since 2014 and holds the title of highest-ranking Republican woman in the House, has been a steadfast ally of Trump. Her prominence rose during the impeachment hearings in 2019, where she was amongst his most vocal supporters.
Several current and former U.S. diplomats expressed that the vacant ambassador position in New York could hinder Trump’s MAGA foreign policy agenda.
“All these major powers like Russia and China have really seasoned heavy hitter diplomats installed in New York now, advancing their own agenda on the world stage, on Gaza or on Syria or on Ukraine or elsewhere,” a former U.S. mission to the United Nations official stated. “Not having a confirmed ambassador for Trump in the seat is a huge gap for his administration’s interests.”
The decision to withdraw Stefanik’s nomination also creates a staffing dilemma. The administration had already appointed staff that she selected from her Congressional office to roles within the State Department's United Nations office in anticipation of her confirmation.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
The New York Republican had not yet resigned her seat and was expected to be confirmed without issue. However, apprehensions about the slim majority among Republicans delayed her confirmation process.
Trump noted on Truth Social that he had requested Stefanik to remain in Congress to aid in pursuing his agenda, describing her as one of his “biggest allies.”
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” he wrote.
Stefanik becomes only the second of Trump’s Cabinet nominees to have their nominations retracted. Former Rep. Matt Gaetz had previously withdrawn his name from consideration for attorney general in November when it became evident that he lacked sufficient Senate votes for confirmation.
This withdrawal highlights the fragile electoral situation that Republicans perceive themselves to be in, alongside their concerns about losing even one vote from their thin majority while they strive to implement Trump's legislative initiatives. While Stefanik won reelection with a 24-point margin last year, there are fears that she could lose her seat given the current political landscape.
CBS reported earlier in the day that Stefanik’s nomination faced serious risks. It remained unclear on Thursday afternoon who would be nominated by the White House to take her place.
Earlier, Majority Leader Steve Scalise expressed confidence that his caucus was ready to move forward without her, signaling optimism about two upcoming special elections in Florida set for April 1, which are expected to increase GOP representation in the House.
"We're going to get these two Florida elections … and then Elise ought to then be able to move forward,” Scalise said. “I hope she’s able to move forward right after that.”
“We’re going to have tight votes all the way through,” he added.
Stefanik, who has served in Congress since 2014 and holds the title of highest-ranking Republican woman in the House, has been a steadfast ally of Trump. Her prominence rose during the impeachment hearings in 2019, where she was amongst his most vocal supporters.
Several current and former U.S. diplomats expressed that the vacant ambassador position in New York could hinder Trump’s MAGA foreign policy agenda.
“All these major powers like Russia and China have really seasoned heavy hitter diplomats installed in New York now, advancing their own agenda on the world stage, on Gaza or on Syria or on Ukraine or elsewhere,” a former U.S. mission to the United Nations official stated. “Not having a confirmed ambassador for Trump in the seat is a huge gap for his administration’s interests.”
The decision to withdraw Stefanik’s nomination also creates a staffing dilemma. The administration had already appointed staff that she selected from her Congressional office to roles within the State Department's United Nations office in anticipation of her confirmation.
Ian Smith for TROIB News
