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

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

Stefanik, a close associate of Trump, is a strong advocate for Israel and has voiced her disapproval of the UN, claiming it hasn't provided enough support for Israel's fight against Hamas.

Trump remarked in a statement announcing his first cabinet selection of his second term, "Elise is a remarkably resilient, determined, and intelligent advocate for America First."

If confirmed, Stefanik would take over the position of UN Ambassador from Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a professional diplomat who dedicated 35 years to the US Foreign Service.

Stefanik expressed that she felt "truly honored" to receive Trump's nomination and was eager to "win over the backing of my fellow members in the United States Senate," who need to cast their votes for her nomination to become official.

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

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

Following Hamas's attack on October 7, she has emerged as one of the strongest advocates for Israel within Congress. Her leadership in congressional hearings focused on how university presidents are managing protests on college campuses has attracted significant national attention.

In the previous month, she contended that there needs to be a "thorough review of the United States' financial support for the United Nations" following the Palestinian Authority's attempt to remove Israel from the UN due to allegations of human rights violations in Gaza.

In a statement on Monday, Israel's spokesperson at the UN expressed that the country's ambassador, Danny Danon, is eager to collaborate with Elise Stefanik to address the harmful falsehoods spread by opposing nations at the UN, all while remaining firmly dedicated to truth and justice.

Prior to Trump's declaration, Stefanik had ascended to the top position among women 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 when she graduated from Harvard University in 2006.

Not long after, she began her political career as a domestic policy advisor at the White House during President George W. Bush's administration. She later took on the role of a senior aide for Joshua Bolten, who was the chief of staff for Bush.

Stefanik eventually took on the role of a leading campaign advisor for Paul Ryan during his vice-presidential bid alongside Mitt Romney. After Romney's defeat, the 30-year-old returned to upstate New York and successfully ran for a Congressional seat, flipping a district that had been held by Democrats, winning by more than 20 points.

Stefanik initially presented herself to voters as a conventional conservative, but she became one of Trump's strongest supporters during his first impeachment trial in 2019. Since then, her loyalty to Trump has remained steadfast.

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

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

A few supporters of Trump, such as billionaire Elon Musk, have suggested that it would be too dangerous to risk losing Stefanik's position. With the ongoing struggle between Republicans and Democrats for control of the House still too uncertain, maintaining her seat is seen as crucial.

Further contributions from Nada Tawfik.