The White House has informed the chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that it is withdrawing Rep. Elise Stefanik’s (R-N.Y.) nomination to serve as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, reflecting how critical her vote is in the House to passing President Trump’s agenda.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chair James E. Risch (R-Idaho) received notice from the White House on Thursday afternoon that it was pulling Stefanik’s nomination, confirming a rumor that circulated earlier in the day in the media.
“I got a call from the White House,” Risch said after walking out of a Senate Republican luncheon.
He said he was told “that they were pulling the nomination.”
“I was informed that just minutes ago,” he said, adding he hadn’t yet had “a chance” to formulate a reaction.
House Republicans had expressed concern that if Stefanik was confirmed, it would have made it tougher to get Trump’s agenda through the lower chamber because Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) would have lost a vote in his conference and didn’t have a clear idea how long it would take New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) to schedule a special election to fill the seat.
Trump confirmed his decision to withdraw Stefanik from consideration in a post on Truth Social, his social media platform.
Trump cited the narrow House GOP majority and uncertainty over the outcome of a special election in New York as two key factors.
“I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” the president posted.
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. 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,” he wrote.
House Republicans now control a razor-thin 218-213 majority, giving Johnson little breathing room to pass a budget reconciliation package late this year that would combine border security, energy and defense spending and tax legislation.
Stefanik’s office did not immediately respond to request for comment from The Hill Thursday.
Trump announced on Nov. 11 that he would pick Stefanik to represent the United States at the UN, praising her as “an incredibly strong, tough and smart America First fighter.”
Stefanik, who is 40 years old, served as chair of the House Republican Conference from May 2021 to Jan. 2025. She stepped down from the House GOP leadership post after being picked to serve in the administration.
Emily Brooks contributed.
