Senate Foreign Relations Committee moves to advance Elise Stefanik for floor vote
WASHINGTON - The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted on Thursday to move forward New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, for a floor vote.
The floor vote, in which all senators decide on whether to officially confirm Stefanik for the position, will likely take place next week.
“Our nation faces threats from across the globe. China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran are all working together against the United States and it will take a strong effort, alongside our allies, to push back against the UN,” said Foreign Relations Committee chairman Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho., in a statement on Thursday.
“As ambassador to the UN, Representative Stefanik will unite our allies against these bad actors that threaten our democratic values,” he added.
Stefanik told senators on the Foreign Relations Committee last week that she will push Trump's "America first" agenda on the global stage and be an unwavering supporter of Israel if confirmed for the role.
She also said she would clamp down on U.S. funding for humanitarian entities that are "counter to American interests,” and echoed complaints against the U.N. lodged by Trump and other Republicans – namely, that the international body takes advantage of the U.S. – its largest funder – and is biased against Israel.
The New York Republican was the first administration nominee Trump announced after he won the election. She campaigned for Trump during the 2024 presidential race and has stood by him even in the face of GOP criticism.
Contributing: Cybele Mayes-Osterman, Paste BN