President Donald Trump introduced Thursday that he was pulling Rep. Elise Stefanik‘s nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations, in a serious turnaround for his Cupboard choose after her affirmation had been stalled over issues about Republicans’ tight margins within the Home. Trump confirmed he was withdrawing the New York Republican’s nomination in a Reality Social submit, saying that it was “important that we preserve EVERY Republican Seat in Congress.”
“We have to be unified to perform our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a significant a part of our efforts from the very starting. I’ve requested Elise, as considered one of my greatest Allies, to stay in Congress,” the president mentioned, with out mentioning any alternative for the submit.
Stefanik’s workplace didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
Trump had tapped Stefanik to characterize the US on the worldwide physique shortly after successful reelection in November. She was seen as among the many least controversial Cupboard picks, and her nomination superior out of committee in late January, however Home Republicans’ razor-thin majority stored her final affirmation in a state of purgatory for the final a number of months.
In current weeks, it had appeared as if Stefanik’s nomination would advance to the Senate flooring, given two US Home particular elections in Florida in districts that Trump simply gained in 2024. Filling these vacant GOP seats would have allowed Stefanik to lastly resign from the Home and given Republicans, who at the moment maintain 218 seats, a bit of extra respiratory room on passing laws in a growingly divided Congress. Democrats maintain 213 seats.
However Democrats’ upset in a Tuesday particular election for a Pennsylvania state Senate seat in Republican-leaning suburbs and farming communities absolutely gave the GOP pause.
Stefanik is the fourth Trump administration nominee who didn’t make it by means of the affirmation course of. Beforehand, former US Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for lawyer common, Chad Chronister was pulled for the Drug Enforcement Administration and former Florida congressman Dr. David Weldon was yanked from rivalry to guide the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
The previous congresswoman had been in a state of limbo for months, not capable of interact in her official duties as a member of the 119th Congress or to take part within the motion on the U.N. The emptiness of a everlasting U.S. ambassador was taking place at a crucial second for the worldwide physique because the world leaders had been discussing the 2 main wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas.
