Elise Stefanik Is Trump’s UN Enforcer, and a Gift to Netanyahu

New York Representative Elise Stefanik gained national attention in December 2023 during a House hearing on campus antisemitism. At the hearing, she questioned the presidents of three prominent U.S. universities, asking if “calling for the genocide of Jews would violate their institutions’ policies on bullying and harassment.”
Nearly a year later, two of those university leaders, Liz Magill of the University of Pennsylvania and Claudine Gay of Harvard, resigned. Meanwhile, Stefanik is set to become the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations under President-elect Donald Trump.
“She will be an incredible Ambassador to the United Nations, delivering ‘Peace through Strength’ and ‘America First’ national security policies!” reads a statement shared by Trump’s team on Monday.
Stefanik has emerged as one of Trump’s most vocal supporters and a staunch advocate for Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Since the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel, she has openly criticized the United Nations, accusing it of “entrenched antisemitic bias” over its criticisms of Israel’s actions in Gaza.
First elected to Congress in 2014, Stefanik represents a district in upstate New York. She initially held a moderate conservative stance. However, she shifted to the right as she aligned closely with Trump, adopting his “America First” stance on foreign policy and national security.
This shift propelled her rapid rise within the GOP. In 2021, she was elected to chair the House Republican Conference, succeeding former Representative Liz Cheney. From this leadership role, Stefanik defended Trump during both impeachment trials and became one of his most loyal advocates in Congress, particularly criticizing President Joe Biden’s administration regarding Israel and the Middle East.
A member of the House Armed Services Committee and the committee overseeing national intelligence, Stefanik’s appointment underscores Trump’s preference for loyalty over career experience in his second administration.
Stefanik has been particularly vocal on foreign policy concerning Israel. Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, she has focused on criticizing the United Nations, accusing it of antisemitism over its criticism of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of more than 43,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Stefanik has traveled to Israel multiple times, meeting with Israeli officials and publicly supporting Israel’s stance in regional conflicts. During her visits, she praised Trump’s policies in the Middle East, such as the Abraham Accords, and criticized the Biden administration’s approach as lacking strength in securing Israel’s interests.
“Israel is America’s most critical ally in the Middle East,” she said during a recent visit, pledging unwavering support for Israeli security and condemning Iran’s influence in the region.
Her ambassadorship aims to strengthen the United States-Israel alliance and address perceived biases against Israel at the U.N. In her October visit, she called for a “complete reassessment of U.S. funding of the United Nations.” She advocated blocking U.S. support for the U.N. agency providing humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
Trump, who generally favors a less interventionist foreign policy, did not focus heavily on the U.N. during his campaign. However, U.S. support for Israel is expected to remain strong, with Trump urging Israel to “finish the job” soon.
Uncertainty surrounds Trump’s approach to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but Israel’s U.N. Ambassador, Danny Danon, welcomed Stefanik’s appointment.
“At a time when hate and lies fill the halls of the U.N., your unwavering moral clarity is needed more than ever. Wishing you success in standing firm for truth and justice,” Danon posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Under Biden, the U.S. has sometimes criticized Israel’s conduct in Gaza and slowed certain weapons deliveries. Netanyahu likely hopes Trump’s return will remove any such restraints, enabling Israel to pursue its war goals more freely. The American administration could also work to counter a potential international war crimes arrest warrant for Netanyahu, which could bolster Netanyahu’s support domestically.
Though Trump has not fully outlined his foreign policy approach for the coming term, his stance is framed as “peace through strength.” While he has indicated a focus on domestic issues, the Middle East—particularly Israel and Netanyahu—could be a notable exception in his plans.