Trump Asks Stefanik to Bow Out of UN Ambassador Post

President Trump made the announcement this afternoon on Truth Social that he has asked Elise Stefanik to return to the House rather than become his ambassador to the UN. “With a very tight majority, I dont’ want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” Trump wrote.

BREAKING

The White House is officially pulling the nomination of Congresswoman Elise Stefanik to serve as US Ambassador to the United Nations.

Earlier today, CBS News reported this was a possibility. pic.twitter.com/ViTrdMP4dL

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) March 27, 2025

As mentioned, CBS News heard this might be happening earlier this morning.

Scoop: Elise Stefanik’s nomination for UN ambassador is in jeopardy as pressure mounts for her to back away from the UN ambassador position, partly because Republicans hold a small majority in the US House. There are discussions being held this morning about whether she should…

— Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) March 27, 2025

CNN reports this was a surprise to a lot of people, possibly even to Stefanik herself who has been on a “farewell tour” in recent days.

The decision stunned some members of House GOP leadership, as well as members of the New York delegation, who were deep in conversations about that special election, according to multiple people familiar with the decision.

Stefanik – who had previously risen to the rank of No. 3 House Republican – forfeited her leadership post last year in order to join Trump’s Cabinet.

And it’s a significant turn for Stefanik, who had taken part in at least one Cabinet meeting and had been taking part in events in her district that local media outlets had billed as a “farewell tour.” While she was sworn in for the 119th Congress, she has had bare bones staffing and no major role on any House committees.

Multiple House Republicans said they were caught off guard by the decision and noted that Johnson and his leadership team have so far had little difficulty maneuvering tough votes on the floor, according to three people familiar with internal discussions.

The NY Times suggests this sudden change probably has a lot to do with two races in Florida and the cloud over Mike Waltz who left one of those seats to become National Security Advisor.

Her nomination had been expected to move ahead after April 1, when two Trump-endorsed Republicans were expected to fill a pair of House seats in Florida that were left vacant after the departures of former Representatives Mike Waltz and Matt Gaetz of Florida. Both had resigned after Mr. Trump selected them to serve in his administration, though Mr. Gaetz later withdrew from consideration as attorney general amid resistance on Capitol Hill.

But there has been growing concern among Republicans in recent days about the special election to replace Mr. Waltz, the embattled national security adviser who has drawn criticism for his involvement in a leaked Signal chat about a military strike on Yemen, in which he included a journalist. What was supposed to be a safe seat has become a competitive race.

Mr. Trump, according to two people familiar with his thinking who described it on the condition of anonymity, has been livid at Mr. Waltz for his role in inadvertently including the editor of The Atlantic in the high-level chat and at the apparent difficulty at holding his seat in Florida.

There have been several reports this week that the Florida special election is closer than anyone expected.

Randy Fine has leaned into President Donald Trump’s endorsement to try to win a congressional special election in Florida. But it’s the Republican state senator’s progressive opponent who has used Trump’s name to amass an eight-figure funding stockpile against him.

The Democratic candidate, math teacher Josh Weil, reported raising more than $10 million for the April 1 race in a deep-red area of the state that went for Trump by more than 30 points. Fine, in contrast, has raised less than $1 million.

“Seems like it’s going to be a lot closer than people expected,” said state Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), Fine’s Tallahassee roommate and closest friend at the state Capitol. He predicted Democrats would likely end up spending upwards of $15 million on the race.

Stefanik also won her seat in New York by a wide margin but if a Democrat can compete in Florida, they can probably compete in New York too, especially if the GOP candidate is unknown or untested.

In any case, Speaker Mike Johnson is welcoming her back to “the leadership table” though it’s not clear what that will mean.

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. It is well known…

— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) March 27, 2025

Rep. Lisa McClain took over the leadership position that Stefanik vacated and she is reportedly not planning to step aside. So we may have to wait and see what happens there.

Stefanik would have had no problem getting confirmed next week so she has to be pretty disappointed to be giving this up. Apart from her personal disappointment, I also think she would have been a good ambassador to the UN. We’ll have to wait and see who Trump nominates in her place.