President Trump withdrew Rep. Elise Stefanik’s nomination to be US ambassador to the United Nations Thursday, saying the New York Republican’s exit from the House posed an unacceptable risk to passing his marquee legislation.
“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he added.
The 218-213 House majority currently affords the GOP the loss of just two votes on any party-line bill, meaning that Stefanik’s expected resignation to take over the UN role threatened the progress of border, energy and tax legislation slated to land on President Trump’s desk by Memorial Day.
Sources familiar with the shake-up said that the Stefanik withdrawal was “absurd,” “a surprise,” and a blow to senior Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn, who was “deeply involved in her pick and trying to get her put in place.”
“It’s a surprise. It’s a bombshell. Trump made a decision — and that’s it,” said one New York Republican official who requested anonymity to avoid alienating the president.
Israel-American businesswoman and GOP donor Miriam Adelson, the wife of the late casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, had also been lobbying for Stefanik’s confirmation, a source close to the White House said.
Before the nomination’s withdrawal was announced, this person revealed “there’s been recent talks between [the] White House and Speaker [Mike Johnson]’s office about if it’s in [the] best interest of [the] House Majority and president’s agenda to pull the nomination.”
The source said that the decision had been “all about the math.”
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” Trump said in his statement. “There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People.”
Johnson (R-La.) added in a statement that he was going to “invite” Stefanik “to return to the leadership table immediately,” though her position as conference chair is currently being filled by Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.).
“Elise Stefanik is truly a great leader and a devoted patriot. Today’s selfless decision shows America what those of us who work with her already know. She is deeply devoted to her country and fully committed to see President Trump’s agenda succeed in Congress,” the speaker said.
“There is no doubt she would have served with distinction as our ambassador to the United Nations, but we are grateful for her willingness to sacrifice that position and remain in Congress to help us save the country.”
Stefanik, 40, who was one of the first Trump nominees to be vetted, cleared the Senate Foreign Relations Committee by a voice vote Jan. 30 — and had been headed for a full confirmation vote in the upper chamber April 2.
New York Democrats had been scheming about rejiggering the rules for an upstate special election to fill Stefanik’s potential vacancy in the 21st Congressional District — before Gov. Kathy Hochul put the kibosh on it, sources familiar with the matter previously told The Post.
That could have left the deep-red district empty of representation until Election Day Nov. 4, but sources noted that the bill rewriting the election rules was “definitely on hold” while Hochul battled Trump over congestion pricing.
Stefanik was considered on a glide path to confirmation after receiving gushing endorsements from Republicans as well as Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania.
She made her mark last Congress by grilling Ivy League presidents over the explosion of antisemitic rhetoric, threats and intimidation on their campuses in the wake of Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, massacre of 1,200 in Israel.
After Stefanik’s nomination was announced, she ripped the UN as a “den of antisemitism” and accused diplomats of “acting as an apologist for Iran and their terrorist proxies” including Hamas.
Unlike other Republican pols tapped for the Trump administration, including former Florida GOP Rep. Mike Waltz, the current national security adviser, Stefanik had yet to resign from her seat.
Special elections will be held next week to replace Waltz and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.). Republicans are expected to win both races, which will push their majority to 220-213 with Stefanik staying in the lower chamber.
“The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day,” Trump said Thursday.
Johnson and his threadbare majority had struggled to pass some bills in the previous Congress — and a recent budget resolution barely made it over the finish line due to initial objections from GOP rebels like Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) and Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.).
Spartz backed down at the last minute and advanced the framework to raise the nation’s budget deficit by $4.5 trillion over the next decade in an effort to extend Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, beef up border security and promote energy line items.
If taken up for a vote in both chambers, the budget resolution can be passed via a process known as reconciliation, which will allow it to be approved by a simple majority, so long as it only involves changes to revenues, spending or the debt limit.
