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.
The decision marks a remarkable blow to the congresswoman who turned from being a Trump skeptic to one of his strongest and loudest supporters – and who gave up a No. 4 leadership spot in the House GOP after Trump nominated her to the U.N. post.
Trump formally nominated Stefanik to the Senate on Jan. 20, the same day of his inauguration, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee immediately held her confirmation hearing on Jan. 21.
She then sat on the Senate’s executive calendar for weeks without movement.
Asked for his reaction to Trump’s decision to pull the nomination, Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said it has “something to do with political realities these days.”
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 – despite it being considered a safe Republican seat, with Stefanik winning by 24 points in 2024 and Trump winning voters in the district by 21 points.
“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.
Trump also said that Stefanik will “rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People.”
It is not clear in what capacity Stefanik will rejoin leadership, as all elected positions are full. There is, however, a chair in the position of “chair of the Elected Leadership Committee,” a No. 10 position that is filled by the Speaker.
“Speaker Johnson is thrilled!” Trump added. “I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC. Thank you Elise!
Johnson in a statement praised Stefanik for the “selfless” decision to bow out and that he “will invite her to return to the leadership table immediately.”
“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.
Before Thursday, Stefanik’s confirmation was expected to move soon after a pair of Florida special election races in Republican-leaning districts April 1, vacancies that were created by former Rep. Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) becoming national security adviser and former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) abruptly resigning after Trump initially picked him to be Attorney General, before Gaetz withdrew days later.
But a closer-than-expected race in Waltz’s district has spooked some in the GOP.
Two vacancies in Democratic-leaning districts, though, will not be filled for months, giving House Republicans a bit more breathing room.
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, replaced former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) as chair of the House Republican Conference in 2021 after Cheney was ousted over her criticism of Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Updated at 2:48 p.m.
