President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he is asking Rep. Elise Stefanik to withdraw her nomination to be United Nations ambassador.
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” the president added, referencing House Republicans’ narrow five-seat margin in the chamber.
Stefanik gave up her position in House leadership after being nominated by Trump for the U.N. role. She was replaced as House Republican Conference Chair by Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain.
In a Fox News interview Thursday evening, her first since Trump’s announcement, Stefanik said she’s “proud to be a team player” given the slim Republican majority in the House.
“This is about stepping up as a team, and I am doing that as a leader, to ensure that we can take hold of this mandate and deliver these historic results,” she said.
Stefanik said the decision to withdraw reached its “culmination” on Thursday and that she spoke with Trump multiple times.
In the interview, she acknowledged the razor-thin margin by which the GOP maintains control of the House. “It’s tough to count these votes every day, and we’re going to continue to defy the political prognosticators and deliver victory on behalf of President Trump and, importantly, the voters across this country,” she said.
Stefanik also pointed blame at Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who she suggested might have dragged her feet on holding a special election to replace her.
Earlier Thursday, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would invite Stefanik “to return to the leadership table immediately” and thanked her for her “selfless decision” to agree to withdraw her nomination. But a source familiar told ABC News that McClain does not plan to resign from her role. It’s unclear what role, if any, Stefanik would hold in House Republican leadership as the top roles are currently filled. Leadership could create a new position for her, but nothing had been formally decided.
In the Fox News interview, Stefanik dodged answering a question regarding a possible return to a House leadership position, saying instead she is now able to “speak out” more since she is no longer pending a confirmation vote.
“The American people will be hearing a lot more from me,” she said.
Rep. Elise Stefanik arrives for the 60th Presidential Inauguration in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Jan. 20, 2025.
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/Pool via Reuters
Stefanik, a New York Republican, began her career in Congress as a moderate, but in recent years has become one of Trump’s staunchest supporters.
She played a key role in the congressional response to antisemitism on college campuses amid the Israel-Hamas war. She’s also accused the United Nations of antisemitism.
When Trump nominated her last November, just days after the election, he said she would be an “America First fighter” for his foreign policy agenda.
U.S. Ambassador Designate to the United Nations Elise Stefanik during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Feb. 26, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Trump’s announcement on Thursday came as Democrats and Republicans were preparing for the potential special election to replace her, though a date had not been set.
“The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People.”
House Republicans currently hold a narrow majority in the House with 218 Republicans to 213 Democrats. Johnson has a two-vote cushion for his majority.
The president appeared to leave the door open to Stefanik joining his administration at another time.
“I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future,” he wrote. “She is absolutely FANTASTIC.”
Trump did not say who he planned to nominate next to serve as U.N. ambassador. The position requires Senate confirmation.
The news came as Democrats and Republicans were preparing for the potential special election to replace her. A date for the special election in New York’s 21st district, that would have chosen who would have replaced Rep. Elise Stefanik if she resigned from Congress, had not been set.
Democratic county chairs had already chosen Blake Gendebien, a dairy farmer, as their candidate, according to ABC affiliate WTEN. Republicans had not yet selected a candidate.
ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim, Benjamin Siegel and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.
