President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is asking representative Elise Stefanik to withdraw his nomination to be an ambassador to the United Nations.
“With a very tight majority, I do not want to take a risk with anyone else who is running for Elise’s seat,” the president added, referring to the narrow margin of five seats of the Republicans of the House of Representatives in the Chamber.
Stefanik resigned from his position in the camera leadership after being nominated by Trump for the role of the UN. She was replaced as president of the Republican Conference of the Michigan House of Representatives, Lisa McClain.
In a Fox News interview on Thursday night, the first since Trump’s announcement, Stefanik said she is “proud to be a team player” given the thin republican majority in the camera.
“It’s about intensifying as a team, and I am doing it as a leader, to ensure that we can seize this mandate and deliver these historical results,” he said.
Stefanik said the decision to retire reached his “culmination” on Thursday and that he spoke with Trump several times.
In the interview, he acknowledged the thin margin of shaving whereby the Republican party maintains control of the house. “It is difficult to count these votes every day, and we will continue challenging political forecasts and providing victory in the name of President Trump and, more importantly, of the voters of this country,” he said.
Stefanik also pointed out the guilt to Democratic governor Kathy Hochul, whom she suggested that she could have dragged her feet when celebrating a special choice to replace it.
On Thursday, the president of the House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, said he would invite Stefanik “to return to the leadership table immediately” and thanked him for his “selfless decision” to accept withdrawing his nomination. But a family source told ABC News that McClain does not plan to give up his role. It is not clear what role, if anyone, Stefanik would have in the republican leadership of the House of Representatives, since the main roles are currently occupied. Leadership could create a new position for her, but nothing had been formally decided.
In Fox News interview, Stefanik dodged answer a question about a possible return to a camera leadership position, saying that he can now “talk more” more, since he is no longer pending confirmation vote.
“The American people will hear much more of me,” he said.
The representative Elise Stefanik arrives at the 60th presidential inauguration in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol in Washington, on January 20, 2025.
Julia DeMaree Nikhinson/Pool through Reuters
Stefanik, a Republican in New York, began his career in Congress as moderate, but in recent years he has become one of Trump’s strongest followers.
She played a key role in Congress response to anti-Semitism on university campuses in the middle of the Israel-Ahamas War. He also accused the United Nations of anti -Semitism.
When Trump nominated her last November, a few days after the elections, she said that she would be a “first fighter of America” for her foreign policy agenda.
The United States ambassador designates the United Nations Elise Stefanik during a cabinet meeting at the White House, on February 26, 2025 in Washington.
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Trump’s announcement on Thursday occurred when Democrats and Republicans were preparing for the possible special choice to replace it, although a date had not been established.
“People love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about the day of the elections,” Trump wrote on his social media platform. “There are others who can do a good job at the United Nations. Therefore, Elise will stay in Congress, will join the camera leadership team and continue to fight for our incredible American people.”
Republicans of the House of Representatives currently have a close majority in the Chamber with 218 Republicans to 213 Democrats. Johnson has a two -vot mattress for most.
The president seemed to leave the door open to Stefanik joining his administration at another time.
“I look forward to the day Elise can join my administration in the future,” he wrote. “She is absolutely fantastic.”
Trump did not say who was planning to nominate with serving as a UN ambassador. The position requires confirmation of the Senate.
The news occurred when Democrats and Republicans were preparing for the possible special choice to replace it. A date for the special elections in the 21st York district, which would have chosen who would have replaced the representative Elise Stefanik if he renounced Congress, had not established himself.
The presidents of the Democratic Count ABC Wten Affiliate. The Republicans had not yet selected a candidate.
ABC News’ Oren Oppenheim, Benjamin Siegel and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.
