President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he asked Rep. Elise Stefanik to attract his nomination to become the United Nations Ambassador.
“With a very strict majority, I do not want to take the opportunity for others who run for Elise’s chair,” added the President, referring to the margin of five narrow Republican house chairs in the room.
Stefanik handed over his position in home leadership after being nominated by Trump for the role of the United Nations. He was replaced as Chair of the Republic of House Conference by Rep. Lisa McClain.
In the Fox News interview on Thursday night, the first since Trump’s announcement, Stefanik said he was “proud to be a team player” considering the slim majority of the Republican in the DPR.
“This is about stepping as a team, and I do that as a leader, to ensure that we can hold this mandate and provide this historical result,” he said.
Stefanik said the decision to attract to achieve “culmination” on Thursday and that he talked to Trump several times.
In the interview, he acknowledged the thin margin with which GOP maintains home control. “It is difficult to calculate this vote every day, and we will continue to oppose political prognosticators and give victory on behalf of President Trump and, as important as, voters throughout this country,” he said.
Stefanik also showed a mistake in Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul, who he suggested might have dragged his feet to hold a special election to replace him.
Previously Thursday, DPR Speaker Mike Johnson said he would invite Stefanik “to immediately return to the leadership table” and thank him for “selfless decision” to agree to attract his nomination. But a familiar source told ABC News that McClain did not plan to resign from his role. It is unclear what role, if any, Stefanik will hold the leadership of House Republican because the top role is currently filled. Leadership can create a new position for him, but nothing is officially decided.
In the Fox News interview, Stefanik avoided answering questions about the possibility of returns to the DPR’s leadership position, saying that he could now “speak” more because he was no longer waiting for confirmation.
“Americans will hear more than me,” he said.
Rep. Elise Stefanik arrived for the inauguration of the 60th president at Rotunda Capitol US in Washington, January 20, 2025.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool Via Reuters
Stefanik, a New York Republican, began his career at the Congress as a moderate, but in recent years it has become one of Trump’s most loyal supporters.
He played an important role in the Congress response to Antisemitism on campuses in the midst of the Israeli-Hamas war. He also accused the United Nations Antisemitism.
When Trump nominated him last November, only a few days after the election, he said he would be the “first American warrior” for his foreign policy agenda.
The US Ambassador was appointed to the UN Elise Stefanik during the cabinet meeting at the White House, February 26, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Image
Trump’s announcement on Thursday came when the Democrats and the Republic were preparing for the potential for special elections to replace it, even though the date had not been determined.
“People love Elise and, with him, we don’t need to worry about the election day,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “There are other people who can do good jobs at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will remain in the congress, re -join the DPR’s leadership team, and continue to fight for our American Americans who are extraordinary.”
House Republicans currently have a narrow majority in the DPR with 218 Republicans to 213 Democrats. Johnson has two votes cushions for the majority.
The President seems to let the door open to Stefanik joining his government at another time.
“I was waiting for the day when Elise could join my government in the future,” he wrote. “He is really fantastic.”
Trump did not say who he planned to be nominated next to him to serve as the UN ambassador. Position requires confirmation of the senate.
The news came when the Democrats and the Republic were preparing for the potential for special elections to replace it. The date for special elections in New York District, which will choose who will replace Rep. Elise Stefanik if he resigned from the congress, it has not been determined.
Democratic district seats have chosen Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer, as their candidate, according to ABC Wten’s affiliate. Republicans have not chosen a candidate.
ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim, Benjamin Siegel and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.