Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said she is “proud to be a team player” after President Donald Trump pulled her nomination to be ambassador to the United Nations due to concerns about a thin House GOP majority.
Stefanik was set to be easily confirmed as U.N. ambassador but will now return to her post as the House representative for New York’s 21st Congressional District.
“I have been proud to be a team player,” she told Fox News’s Hannity on Thursday night. “The president knows that. He and I have had multiple conversations today, and we are committed to delivering results on behalf of the American people. And, as always, I’m committed to delivering results on behalf of my constituents.”
Stefanik resigned her leadership position as House Republican Conference chairwoman to pursue the U.N. ambassador position. She did not say what leadership position she will take now, though she added that the “American people will be hearing a lot more from me” now that she’s not pending confirmation.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a social media post Thursday that he would “invite her to return to the leadership table immediately.” It’s unclear what position Stefanik would take.
“Today’s selfless decision shows America what those of us who work with her already know. She is deeply devoted to her country and fully committed to see President Trump’s agenda succeed in Congress,” he said.
Stefanik suggested that Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) and other Democrats were responsible for her pulled nomination.
“The reality is, as Democrats, as we see in New York state, it is totally corrupt. Kathy Hochul started threatening to move the ball on the election day, you see, a highly, highly politicized radical Left trying to do everything they can to defeat the president,” she said. “And this is about stepping up as a team, and I am doing that as a leader, to ensure that we can take hold of this mandate and deliver these historic results.”
“It really came to a culmination today, but it was a combination of the New York corruption that we’re seeing under Kathy Hochul, special elections, and the house margin,” she added.
House Republicans were rattled after New York Democrats proposed a bill that would’ve delayed the special election to replace Stefanik for months, giving the Democratic Party a chance to take advantage of a slimmer Republican majority.
Hochul later shot down the bill.
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Trump said Stefanik must stay in Congress so that the Republican majority can stay safe.
“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 said in a Truth Social post. “With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day.”