White House pulls New York Rep. Stefanik’s nomination for UN ambassador

WASHINGTON (CN) — The Donald Trump administration is withdrawing New York Representative Elise Stefanik’s nomination to become the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, the president confirmed Thursday.

Stefanik’s nomination last year to lead Washington’s delegation to the U.N. had long been a sticky prospect for House Republicans, who control a slim majority in the lower chamber.

The congresswoman’s departure — and the possibility that Democrats could win her seat in a special election — raised concerns about GOP control of the House at a crucial moment for the Trump administration’s agenda.

The president himself acknowledged those worries in a statement Thursday, posted to his social media platform Truth Social.

“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress,” he wrote. “With a very tight majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat.”

Trump said Stefanik would remain in Congress and rejoin the Republican leadership team — before she was nominated to the U.N. she chaired the House Republican Conference. The president did not say who would replace her in his administration but said that there are “others that can do a good job.”

And the president left the door open for the New York lawmaker to score another position in the White House, writing that he looked forward to the day Stefanik joined his administration “in the future.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson also praised his GOP colleague, writing in a statement posted to X that she was “truly a great leader and devoted patriot.”

“It is well known Republicans have a razor-thin House majority, and Elise’s agreement to withdraw her nomination will allow us to keep one of the toughest, most resolute members of our conference in place to help drive forward President Trump’s America First policies,” Johnson said.

The House speaker added that there was “no doubt” the New York congresswoman would have served well as U.N. ambassador but that he was grateful for her “sacrifice” and decision to remain in Congress.

As of Thursday afternoon, Stefanik had yet to make a public statement about the withdrawal of her nomination. The lawmaker, though, had been making preparations for her exit from Congress, embarking on a farewell tour of New York’s 21st Congressional District and rolling up her accomplishments on social media.

Though Johnson invited Stefanik to return to the Republican leadership table “immediately,” Michigan Representative Lisa McClain — who is currently chair of the House GOP conference — has not indicated that she would give up her position.

But in her own statement Thursday, McClain said that her colleague was a “vital” part of the Republican caucus and that she was glad to have her back in leadership.

“Her work ethic and commitment will help us deliver President Trump and the American people’s agenda,” she wrote.

It’s unclear whether Republicans or the Trump administration saw a serious Democratic threat for Stefanik’s seat. The lawmaker won reelection handily in 2024, defeating challenger Paula Collins by nearly 100,000 votes. A poll published this week by GOP-aligned GrayHouse showed Republicans with a 16-point advantage in the special election for her district.

The New York congresswoman would not have been the first House Republican to leave Congress for the White House in recent months. Florida Representative Mike Waltz resigned from the House to become Trump’s national security adviser. Late last year, another Florida congressman — former Representative Matt Gaetz — left the House ahead of an ill-fated nomination for attorney general.

Departing Republican lawmakers have put a strain on the House’s slim GOP majority, a dynamic that has on more than one occasion called into question their ability to pass legislation crucial to Trump’s agenda.

Most recently, House Republicans barely passed a six-month continuing resolution which averted a government shutdown and slashed some federal funding, but only after courting conservative spending hawks to support the measure.

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