President Donald Trump on Thursday announced he would withdraw the nomination of New York Rep. Elise Stefanik to be U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, citing a need for Republicans to keep her seat amid narrow margins in the House.
“With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat,” Trump posted on his Truth Social platform. “The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations.”
The move represented a stunning admission from the typically headstrong president that House Republicans, who hold only a threadbare majority in the chamber, are facing increased vulnerability just two months into his second term as they try to get a budget reconciliation bill through to enact Trump’s agenda.
“As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,” Trump wrote.
“I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN,” he added.
Later Thursday, Stefanik attributed the decision in part to New York politics.
“It was a combination of the New York corruption that we’re seeing under [Gov.] Kathy Hochul, special elections and the House margin,” Stefanik said in an interview on Fox News. “Look, I’ve been in the House, it’s tough to count these votes every day, and we are going to continue to defy the political prognosticators.”
“Because I’m not pending confirmation, the American people will be hearing a lot more from me,” she said. “You’re limited in what you can say when you are pending confirmation, so I’m glad to have joined Fox today, as I will continue to do.”
Trump’s decision to withdraw Stefanik’s nomination comes two weeks after the White House pulled former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon’s nomination to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Trump’s initial pick for attorney general, former Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration in November.
Stefanik won a sixth term to her 21st District seat in upstate New York in November by 24 points. Trump also carried the district by 21 points, according to calculations by elections analyst Drew Savicki.
Despite those lopsided margins, Trump’s announcement amounted to “an admission of vulnerability” in a deep-red seat, according to Jacob Rubashkin, deputy editor of Inside Elections.
And House Majority PAC, the leading Democratic super PAC dedicated to winning the House, saw implications for the 2026 midterms following Thursday’s move.
“House Republicans are in a full-blown panic over their razor-thin majority, worrying about holding on to a seat that Trump won by 21%. They know they’re screwed in 2026,” spokeswoman Katarina Flicker said in a statement.
The 21st District had already been gearing up for a special election to succeed Stefanik. Democratic county leaders picked dairy farmer Blake Gendebien last month as their candidate in the never-scheduled race, while their Republican counterparts hadn’t yet coalesced around a nominee.
In the previous Congress, Stefanik was the No. 4 Republican in the House as chair of the Republican Conference. Trump said in his Truth Social post that she would “rejoin the House Leadership Team, and continue to fight for our amazing American People. Speaker Johnson is thrilled!”
Stefanik’s spot has since been filled by Michigan Rep. Lisa McClain.
Trump, who sometimes had Stefanik speak at his campaign rallies, made clear he would consider her down the road for other administration posts, writing: “I look forward to the day when Elise is able to join my Administration in the future. She is absolutely FANTASTIC.”
Mary Ellen McIntire and Niels Lesniewski contributed to this report.
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