U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Elise Stefanik During the 2016/17 Black Hole Debate: Why Did Trump Tap the House Speaker?
I am proud to have Chairwoman Jacobi serve in my Cabinet as U.S. Ambassador to the UN. The president said in a statement that “Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter.”
Stefanik, who is the highest ranking woman Republican in the House, has been a key ally of Trump’s over the years and was reported to have been a contender as his running mate during the presidential election.
The nomination requires the Senate to confirm it, which Stefanik is expected to do. Republicans are now in control of the Senate after the election. Under New York state law, Gov. Kathy Hochul must call a special election within 10 days of a vacancy. Republican’s see Stefanik’s seat as safe.
That brand of politics was on display when she criticized Donald Trump, saying he made “inappropriate, offensive comments” in the leaked Access Hollywood tape.
Source: Trump taps House Rep. Elise Stefanik as U.N. ambassador
Nikki Haley’s departure from the U.N. Senate: Trump’s view of foreign policy under Rubio’s influence
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who was Trump’s strongest adversary during the 2024 Republican primary, served as one of Trump’s U.N. ambassadors in his first administration. But in a post on Truth Social, Trump confirmed that Haley would not be joining his administration.
President-elect Donald Trump is expected to nominate Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to serve as secretary of state, according to a source familiar with the selection. The country’s top diplomat would be a Latino, if the confirmation proposal is approved.
The selection officially brings Rubio into Trump’s fold and offers a new chapter in the evolving relationship between the former rivals for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. In the years since, Rubio has become a close adviser to Trump on foreign relations, and was even a top contender for vice president up until the day Trump announced Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate.
Rubio’s expected nomination comes as the Trump administration will have to contend with ongoing wars between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Hamas, in addition to ongoing tensions with China and Iran.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, was first elected senator for Florida in 2010 after serving in the state house — including as speaker — for more than a decade. During his time in the Senate, Rubio became a key voice in debates over U.S. foreign policy. During his tenure in the Senate, the lawmaker advocated for Libya’s intervention in 2011; and criticized then- President Trump’s plan to withdraw from Syria and Afghanistan.
“We’re entering into an era of pragmatic foreign policy in which the world is rapidly changing,” Rubio said in an interview with CNN. “Adversaries are uniting — North Korea, Iran, China, Russia [are] increasingly coordinating — it’s going to require us to be very pragmatic and wise and how we invest overseas and what we do.
Even though he has more traditional views on foreign policy, there are still some who voted against providing military aid for Ukranian.
In opposition to military funding and in advocating for negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, Florida Senator Marco Rubo said that the stalemate needed to be brought to a conclusion.
Their relationship has not always been harmonious. The two poked jabs at each other while campaigning against each other in 2016. When Marco made the accusations against Trump, things got topsy-turvy and he said, “Have you seen his hands?” What do they say about men with small hands? “I guarantee you there’s no problem,” Trump said.