Elise Stefanik Went Full MAGA — So Where Is Her Trump Endorsement?

New York Rep. Elise Stefanik morphed from a moderate, right-of-center Republican to a MAGA champion in just a few years, but she still hasn’t secured the coveted Trump endorsement in her run for governor of New York as she faces a new primary challenger.

Stefanik, whose team argues she has the best shot at defeating incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, is facing Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman. Even though Stefanik currently leads Blakeman by 31 points, President Donald Trump has asserted both are “great people” and declined to get involved in the race at this point.

The lack of endorsement raises questions about potential lingering tensions from Trump pulling Stefanik’s nomination as ambassador to the United Nations and a recent row with Speaker Mike Johnson, as well as the political expediency of Stefanik’s delayed embrace of the president. (RELATED: Elise Stefanik Accuses Mike Johnson Of Protecting Deep State In Fight Over Intel Provision)

During the 2016 Republican primary, Stefanik publicly criticized several of Trump’s positions but largely avoided mentioning him by name, according to a Roll Call report. Her criticisms included Trump’s attacks on the family of a Muslim U.S. soldier killed in Iraq, his proposal to ban immigration from Muslim-majority countries, his pledge to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the release of the Access Hollywood tape.

As Trump became the most popular person in the Republican Party, Stefanik swiftly came on board, emerging as one of his most vocal supporters in the House. Trump referred to her as a “Republican star” for her performance defending him during the 2019 impeachment hearings and Stefanik says she is proudly “ultra-MAGA.”

That evolution has coincided with her rise to a prominent national profile, advancement into congressional leadership, and consideration for a role in the second Trump administration.

This is Kathy Hochul and Mamdani’s New York where antisemitic crimes are on the rise and attacks against Jewish New Yorkers are skyrocketing.

Let me be clear, this heinous act of antisemitic violence and harassment has no place in New York, in America, or anywhere in the world… https://t.co/XtLrA2sQ9o

— Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) December 17, 2025

Stefanik was elected to the No. 3 House Republican leadership position in 2021, replacing former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney. Cheney was removed from the role by House Republicans after repeatedly criticizing Trump over his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack and for serving on the House Select Committee that investigated the events.

At the time Stefanik was elected to Republican Conference Chair, her lifetime voting score from the conservative group Heritage Action for America was 48 — one of the most moderate marks among House Republicans — compared with Cheney’s 80 and Texas Rep. Chip Roy’s 96, according to PBS.

Stefanik leveraged her increased prominence in the party to a series of viral interrogations of university presidents for allegedly fomenting antisemitism on campus. Several of those presidents were ousted as a result.

After Trump’s victory in the November 2024 presidential election, he announced Stefanik would serve as UN ambassador in his second administration, noting that she “led the charge against antisemitism on college campuses.”

However, Stefanik’s nomination lingered for some time and was eventually withdrawn in March. She had given up her leadership positions and committee assignments in preparation for the new job, and her staff were preparing moves to New York City. In a Truth Social post, the president said the decision was driven by the need for Republicans to retain every seat in Congress. Stefanik currently serves in an R+10 district, according to the Cook Political Report.

Stefanik announced in November that she was running for governor of New York instead and appeared to have an open lane to securing the GOP nomination. As word spread that Blakeman, who previously received Trump’s endorsement in his race for county executive, might challenge Stefanik, Trump called his friend and discouraged him from running. Blakeman rejected the president’s advice and entered the race in early December. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Why Republicans Dominated In Nassau County, New York, As Rest Of Country Went Blue)

When asked who he will endorse in the race, Trump answered by stating, “He’s great, and she’s great. They’re both great people.” The president reportedly believes Stefanik will easily win the primary, but does not want to publicly say anything negative about Blakeman, according to NY Mag.

Team Elise spokesperson Bernadette Breslin told the Daily Caller that Blakeman is a weaker Republican whose positions on gun rights, past support for Democrats, and history of election losses could make it harder for the party to compete against Hochul.

“Her record is in stark contrast to Bruce Blakeman who is anti-2A (the kiss of death Upstate), who has a record of donating to and supporting corrupt Far Left Democrats, and who has lost numerous statewide, federal, and local races in smashing fashion before finally being propped up by a strong county infrastructure,” Breslin said. “Bruce Blakeman is an early Christmas present to Kathy Hochul as he works to blow Republicans’ best chance to win.”

Following the non-endorsement, Stefanik got into a public spat with Speaker Mike Johnson after she warned she would block the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The feud prompted Trump to step in and mediate a compromise between the two GOP leaders. Stefanik later declared victory in the dispute, saying the agreement secured a provision barring what she described as illegal weaponization by the intelligence community.

Just days later, Stefanik attended a White House event with Trump honoring the U.S. men’s hockey team behind the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” victory over the Soviet Union. (RELATED: Trump Honors Greatest American Team Ever)

President Donald Trump honors the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Men’s Hockey team. 🇺🇸🏒

During the height of the Cold War, the Americans fielded a roster with no Olympic or professional experience and defied overwhelming odds by defeating the dominant USSR. pic.twitter.com/8lo37sBTwT

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) December 12, 2025

The president commented again on the race as the New York congresswoman stood beside him in the Oval Office.

“She’s running for a little position called governor of New York, and she’s got a hell of a shot at it,” Trump said. “She’s got a little competition with a very good Republican, but she’s a great Republican.”

“So, we’ll see what happens,” he added.

Trump’s lack of endorsement at this stage of a primary is not entirely unusual. In the 2022 New York gubernatorial race, Trump remained neutral during the Republican primary and did not endorse GOP nominee Lee Zeldin until Oct. 16. Trump announced his support in a Truth Social post nearly four months after Zeldin secured the nomination in June and roughly three weeks before the general election against Gov. Kathy Hochul.

Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo questioned Stefanik about her reaction to Blakeman entering the race during a Dec. 10 interview last week on “Mornings with Maria.”

“I am the only candidate in this race that has never lost a race and Democrats have targeted almost more than any other Republican in New York state over the past decade,” Stefanik replied. “I have a coalition of voters in my district of Republicans, Democrats and Independents and we have been able to support Republicans all across New York state.”

Breslin noted that public polling shows Stefanik with a hefty lead over Blakeman in the primary, including a strong advantage on Long Island, and emphasized that she is the best GOP candidate to take on Hochul in the general election.

“Elise is the strongest candidate against Kathy Hochul by a long shot. Elise has outrun President Trump on the ballot by more than any Republican in New York State including Bruce,” Breslin wrote. “Elise flipped a seat that Republicans failed to flip for years by winning an overwhelming coalition of Republicans, Independents, and Democrats, all while raising tens of millions of dollars to support Republicans across New York and the country.”

The Caller reached out to the White House for comment but did not receive a response prior to publication.