Republican representative. Elise Stefanik She will face questions from senators on Tuesday as she defends her record and qualifications to become the next US ambassador to the United Nations.
Stefanik, one of President Trump's most trusted allies in Congress, went before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations for his confirmation hearing less than 24 hours after Mr. Trump took the oath of office., Mr Trump is expected to have his key Cabinet picks confirmed and take office once he becomes president on January 20. Stefanik is likely to be confirmed when the full Senate votes on it.
Stefanik, 40, will be the youngest-ever US ambassador to the United Nations. The New York Republican has served in leadership positions as Republican conference chair, and she was on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. And the skills he honed in Congress will serve him well, said John Alterman, senior vice president and director of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
Alterman said Stefanik has some of the most important qualities a UN ambassador can have – a close relationship with the president and the ability to communicate and execute his policies.
Alex Brandon/AP
“The most important part of being a representative is having a relationship with the president, being able to speak for the president and being able to speak for the policies of the administration,” Alterman said. “I think she's very good at thinking about messaging, she understands the president's instincts and she likes him.”
“And I think the political skills you learn while in Congress turn out to be really helpful when you work at the United Nations,” Alterman added. “I mean, a lot of it is about coalition building, neutralizing the opposition, compromise. All these kinds of things are skills that Congress and other types of political experience are great for.”
Trump's selection to represent the US at the United Nations also comes as he is one of the most vocal critics of the institution. Stefanik has called the United Nations anti-Semitic, criticizing its approach toward Israel in the wake of Hamas' October 7, 2023 terrorist attack.
After the United Nations overwhelmingly passed a non-binding resolution in September demanding that Israel end “its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory” within 12 months, Stefanik said the United The nation's “anti-Semitism is on full display as it punishes Israel for defending itself.” Stefanik has been highly critical of the Biden administration's handling of the situation in the Middle East, and she was the first high-ranking House member to visit Israel following the Hamas attack. There is no doubt that she will play the role after this armistice agreement between Hamas and Israel which came into effect at the end of this week. ,
Stefanik has supported Mr. Trump's “America first” message and agenda, stressing that the United States needs to focus its spending, energy, and attention on issues directly affecting America, while Stefanik has in the past supported military aid to Ukraine and voted for sanctions on Russia. It extended its invasion of Ukraine into 2022, and has opposed recent, additional aid. In April 2024, she was one of 112 Republicans to vote against a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine.
When Mr. Trump announced her as his choice for the United Nations, Stefanik said she would “advance President Donald Jr. Trump's America-first restoration of peace through strong leadership on the world stage on day one.” Are ready for it.”
Alterman said she thinks people “underestimate her communication skills.”
“I think he's very smart and intelligent,” Alterman said. “And having an ambassador to the United Nations who understands the impact of his words and actions advances the administration's agenda.”
Who is Elise Stefanik?
Elected to represent New York's 21st Congressional District in 2014, Stefanik was the youngest Republican woman elected to Congress at the age of 30. She has since easily won reelection in her upstate New York district. As GOP conference chairwoman, Stefanik has been the highest-ranking woman in the House.
Born and raised in New York, Stefanik was the first in his family to earn a college degree, according to his office. He graduated from Harvard University, where he studied government.
At the age of 20, he met President George W. Bush at the White House. Served on Bush's Domestic Policy Council.
Stefanik and her husband have one son.
How to watch Elise Stefanik's confirmation hearing
- What: Elise Stefanik's confirmation hearing
- date: Tuesday, January 21
- Time: 10 am
- Place: House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing Room, Capitol Hill
- Online Stream: Live on CBS News in the player above and on your mobile or streaming device.