Trump appoints UN ambassador Elise Stefanik and border tsar Tom Homan
Donald Trump, who has been elected as the US President, has announced two additional important appointments as he prepares to take office again in January.
Tom Homan, 62, has been appointed as Trump's "border czar." He previously held the position of acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the past administration.
CBS News, the BBC's US partner, has confirmed that 40-year-old Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from New York has been appointed as the ambassador to the United Nations.
At the same time, Trump's Republican Party is getting closer to having complete oversight of the US Congress. They currently hold a majority in the Senate and only need to secure a few more seats to gain control of the House of Representatives.
To secure a majority in the House, a party must hold 218 seats. Currently, the Republicans have 215 seats, while their opponents, the Democrats, have 210, as reported by CBS.
Having control of the House allows a political party to propose new spending laws and to start impeachment processes against officials.
If the House of Representatives, which is the lower chamber of Congress, has a majority that supports Trump, along with a sympathetic Senate, the likelihood of him getting his initiatives approved would be much higher compared to a situation where Democrats held power in one or both chambers.
In the meantime, people are now focusing on who Trump will choose to be part of his administration.
In a recent update on his Truth Social platform, Trump announced that Homan would take the lead on managing the country’s borders, referring to him as "The Border Czar." This role will encompass responsibilities for the Southern Border, the Northern Border, as well as marine and aviation security.
He went on to say, “In a similar vein, Tom Homan will oversee the deportation of undocumented immigrants back to their home countries. Congratulations to Tom! I’m confident he’ll do an excellent job, one that many have been eager for.”
A key promise of Trump's campaign was to remove undocumented immigrants from the United States.
An insider associated with Trump's transition team informed CBS News that Trump has chosen Stefanik to be the ambassador to the UN, and she has agreed to take on the position.
"I am proud to put forward Chairwoman Elise Stefanik for a position in my Cabinet as the US Ambassador to the United Nations," Trump stated in a CBS News announcement shortly afterward. "Elise is an exceptionally strong, resilient, and intelligent advocate for America First."
She expressed her acceptance of the position to the New York Post, stating that she felt "genuinely honored."
In my discussion with President Trump, I expressed how truly honored I feel to receive his nomination, and I'm eager to gain the backing of my fellow senators.
Trump previously selected Susie Wiles to be his chief of staff. During his victory speech after the election, he referred to her as "the ice maiden," highlighting her calm demeanor.
Other potential candidates for the administration include billionaire Elon Musk, the owner of X, who was instrumental in Trump's campaign, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who initially launched his own presidential campaign before supporting Trump.
There are rumors that Florida Senator Rick Scott might be a contender for the position of Senate majority leader, as he has gained support from Musk and several others.
Trump has announced that he will not be giving Nikki Haley and Mike Pompeo, both of whom worked in his first administration, any new roles.
The president-elect is in charge of making around 4,000 political appointments. During his initial term, it took Trump several months to form his cabinet.
Certain positions, such as the UN ambassador role, need the US Senate's consent. However, Trump has requested that the new Senate leader allow him to make these appointments without going through the usual confirmation process.
Trump has announced that Homan will take on a substantial role in managing border security and deportation policies, which were key topics in his campaign.
Homan, who used to work as a police officer, was also a key figure during Trump's first term as he served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
He stepped down from his position in 2018, but continued to endorse Trump's strict immigration policy. He was in favor of the separation of migrant children from their parents as a way to discourage illegal border crossings. Additionally, he has suggested that lawmakers who back sanctuary policies for migrants should face legal consequences.
Homan is a guest scholar at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank that released the Project 2025 report, outlining a set of goals for a potential second term of Trump as president. However, Trump has recently distanced himself from the organization.
In 2014, Stefanik made history by being the youngest woman to win a seat in Congress at the age of 30. She still serves as the representative for New York's 21st District.
After she began her political career, the fourth-ranking Republican in the House initially took on a moderate stance and openly criticized Trump. However, she eventually transformed into one of his most steadfast supporters.
In his comments to the New York Post, Trump referred to her as "an exceptionally resilient, determined, and intelligent supporter of America First principles."
The position of UN ambassador is vital for fostering international collaboration and ensuring security. Stefanik's nomination arrives at a time when tensions are still high in both Ukraine and the Middle East.
North America reporter Anthony Zurcher sheds light on American politics in his bi-weekly newsletter, US Election Unspun. If you're in the UK, you can subscribe here. For those outside the UK, you can sign up here.
