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Trump taps Zeldin, Stefanik for key roles
President-elect Donald Trump has selected two prominent New York Republicans for key roles in his incoming administration. Former Congressman Lee Zeldin is set to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, while Congresswoman Elise Stefanik has been nominated as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. FOX 5's Morgan McKay has more on the appointments and what they mean for the state and national policy.
NEW YORK - President-elect Donald Trump announced on Monday that he picked New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to serve as his ambassador to the United Nations.
"Elise is an incredibly strong, tough, and smart America First fighter," Trump said in a statement.
Stefanik, who is likely to be confirmed by a Republican-controlled Senate, currently serves as House Republican Conference Chair and has long been one of Trump's most loyal allies in the House. Nikki Haley, who challenged Trump for the GOP nomination, was among those who previously held the role in his first term.
Who is Elise Stefanik?
The 40-year-old Stefanik was on the shortlist of those discussed as a potential vice presidential choice.
Born and raised in upstate New York, Stefanik graduated from Harvard and worked in former President George W. Bush’s White House on the domestic policy council and in the chief of staff’s office.
In 2014, she became the youngest woman ever, at age 30, elected to Congress, representing upstate New York. She later became the youngest woman to serve in House leadership.
Representative Elise Stefanik, a Republican from New York, speaks to members of the media ahead of a campaign event with former US President Donald Trump, not pictured, at Madison Square Garden in New York, US, on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2024. The Republica …
Stefanik was known early in her tenure as a more moderate conservative voice, but she soon attached herself to the former president, quietly remaking her image into that of a staunch MAGA ally — and seeing her power ascend, according to the Associated Press.
In 2021, she was named the House Republican Conference Chair.
Stefanik spent years positioning herself as one of Trump’s most trusted allies and confidants on Capitol Hill. She endorsed him in the 2024 race before he had even launched his bid, and aggressively campaigned on his behalf during the Republican primary.
She saw her profile rise after her aggressive questioning of a trio of university presidents over anti-Semitism on campus led to two of their resignations — a performance Trump repeatedly praised.
Stefanik also defended Trump vigorously in both of his impeachment trials and railed against his four criminal indictments, including filing an ethics complaint in New York against the judge who heard his civil fraud case.