Who is Elise Stefanik, Trump's pick for UN ambassador?

President-elect Donald Trump has appointed Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik as the new US ambassador to the United Nations.

Stefanik, a long-time supporter of Trump, is a strong advocate for Israel and has expressed her dissatisfaction with the United Nations, claiming that it hasn't provided enough support for Israel in its conflict with Hamas.

"Trump praised Elise, describing her as an exceptionally resilient, determined, and intelligent advocate for America First," he stated while announcing the first selection for his cabinet in his second term.

If it's confirmed, Stefanik will take over the position of UN Ambassador from Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a long-serving diplomat who dedicated 35 years to the US Foreign Service.

Stefanik expressed that she felt "truly honored" to receive Trump's nomination and is eager to "gain the backing of my fellow senators," as the Senate will need to vote on her nomination for it to be finalized.

"America remains a guiding light for the world, yet we anticipate and must insist that our friends and allies stand as robust partners in the peace we are pursuing," Stefanik stated in a comment to the New York Post.

The Congresswoman from New York has limited experience in foreign affairs and national security. She has been a member of both the House Armed Services Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

Following Hamas's attack on October 7th, she has emerged as one of the strongest advocates for Israel in Congress. She has gained significant national recognition by spearheading congressional hearings focused on how university leaders are managing protests on campuses in the wake of the terrorist incident.

Last month, she stated that the United States needs to thoroughly reevaluate its financial support for the United Nations. This comment came after the Palestinian Authority attempted to remove Israel from the UN due to allegations of human rights violations in Gaza.

Prior to Trump's announcement, Stefanik had ascended to the position of the most senior woman in the leadership of House Republicans.

Growing up in upstate New York, the congresswoman became the first in her family to obtain a college diploma, completing her studies at Harvard University in 2006.

Shortly afterwards, she began her career in politics, working as a domestic policy adviser in the White House during George W. Bush's presidency. Eventually, she rose to the position of a senior aide to Joshua Bolten, who was Bush's chief of staff.

Stefanik later served as a key campaign advisor for Paul Ryan during his vice-presidential bid with Mitt Romney. After Romney's defeat, the 30-year-old returned to upstate New York and decided to run for Congress, successfully taking a seat that had been held by Democrats with a victory margin of more than 20 points.

Stefanik initially presented herself to voters as a conventional conservative, but during Trump's first impeachment trial in 2019, she became one of his strongest supporters. Her backing of Trump has remained consistent ever since.

“I take great pride in being one of the leading supporters,” Stefanik mentioned earlier this year regarding her backing of the president-elect. “I would be honored to have a role in a future Trump administration.”

Her appointment would create a vacancy in the 21st Congressional District seat in New York, necessitating a special election.

Certain supporters of Trump, such as billionaire Elon Musk, have suggested that it would be too dangerous to lose Stefanik's position, especially since both the Republicans and Democrats are vying for control of the House, which is still highly uncertain.