President Donald Trump has pulled the nomination of New York Rep Elise Stefanik to serve as the US ambassador to the United Nations.
Announcing his decision in a post on social media, Trump said it was essential that Stefanik retain her seat in the House of Representatives to protect Republicans’ razor-thin majority.
“I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations.”
Calling her one of his biggest allies, the president said Stefanik would rejoin the House leadership team.
Stefanik was expected to sail through Senate confirmation, but the vote on her nomination was delayed because her support was needed in the House to pass Republican-backed legislation.
It was believed that the Senate would proceed with her nomination after a pair of special elections for safe Republican seats in Florida were held on 1 April. Those races are being held to replace former Rep Mike Waltz, the current national security advisor, and Matt Gaetz, who resigned his seat after Trump nominated him to serve as attorney general.
But discussions were held at the White House on Thursday about whether Stefanik should remain in Congress, given the president’s agenda and the narrow 218-213 Republican majority in the House.
The White House has not announced who the president might nominate to serve as ambassador to the UN next.
