Who is Elise Stefanik, Trump's pro-Israel pick for UN envoy?
The president-elect described the New York congresswoman as a "strong, tough and smart America First fighter."
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump has offered Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) the role of US ambassador to the United Nations, selecting a staunchly pro-Israel voice as America’s top representative to the world body.
“I am honored to nominate Chairwoman Elise Stefanik to serve in my Cabinet as US Ambassador to the United Nations. Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter,” Trump said in a statement Monday.
Stefanik, 40, is a fierce ally of Trump from her perch as chair of the House Republican Conference, where she leads the party’s messaging. She would bring limited foreign policy experience to the position of UN envoy, aside from having served on the House Armed Services panel and Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
She burnished her pro-Israel credentials in the aftermath of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack and the war in the Gaza Strip. During an address to the Israeli Knesset in May, Stefanik called for wiping the Palestinian militant group “off the face of the Earth” and attacked President Joe Biden’s decision to pause certain bomb shipments to Israel. She voted in favor of a bill that month to restrict the president's ability to limit weapons transfers to Israel.
