President-elect Donald Trump appointed New York Congressman Elise Stefanik to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations.
Voice of America correspondent Margaret Besheer provides an overview of her career and the challenges she will face. Elise Stefanik entered the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 at the age of 30 as a moderate Republican representing a largely rural district in northern New York state.
“Initially, she was not seen as a staunch supporter of President Trump; however, she changed, becoming one of his strong allies. She rose through the ranks of party leadership in Congress and currently holds the position of chair of the House Republican Conference,” says Sally Friedman, a political science professor at the University of Albany.
As the chair of the House Republican Conference, a position she has held since 2021, she is the fourth-highest-ranking Republican legislator in the House of Representatives.
“She did not attend the Republican Convention in Cleveland in 2016, but only after his election and rise, especially among conservatives, did she become, as she herself says, ‘a passionate supporter of the Make America Great Again doctrine.’ For Representative Stefanik, this meant defending Mr. Trump during impeachment proceedings in Congress, supporting his claims that the 2020 elections were stolen, and becoming a strong representative of his campaign,” adds Friedman.
“She is smart and very hardworking. She has rhetorical skills and is highly effective,” says Mr. Seiler.
Stefanik became widely known during congressional hearings on pro-Palestinian protests at several American universities. Three presidents of prominent universities resigned following these hearings.
Stefanik: “So, the answer is yes, calling for genocide against Jews violates Harvard’s code of conduct, doesn’t it?”
Gay: “I say again, it depends on the context.”
Stefanik: “It does not depend on the context. The answer is YES, and that is why you must resign. Your answers are unacceptable.”
In May, she expressed her unwavering support for Israel in statements made in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament, and has received significant financial contributions for her campaign from pro-Israel lobbies and individuals.
Trump announced Stefanik’s appointment as one of the first appointments of his new administration, just five days after the election. She is heading to the United Nations with limited experience in foreign policy, while the world body is grappling with wars in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan; rising global hunger; climate change; and a range of other crises.
“I think that once she becomes ambassador, Elise Stefanik will focus on the Middle East. She may focus on Ukraine, and given her past statements, she seems likely to be very critical of China,” says Richard Gowan, director for the United Nations at the International Crisis Group.
During his first term, Trump cut hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. funding for several UN agencies. This time, the organization is making contingency plans in anticipation of even deeper cuts.
Meanwhile, Elise Stefanik will find herself on a new stage, this time an international one.
